A delegate to the national conference and lecturer at the Delta State University, Prof Godwin Darah, on Tuesday condemned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for their inability to distribute the Permanent Voters Card (PVC) to registered voters four years after the last general elections.
“The one area they (INEC) have not done well is the area of the PVC, because they had four years since 2011 to get that matter sorted out” adding that “with less than three weeks to the election, many people have not gotten their cards; that is inexcusable” he said while speaking as a guest on Sunrise Daily.
He further noted that “it is a cardinal aspect; if you don’t have that card, you cannot vote”, insisting that “they shouldn’t have had that problem at all because they had sufficient time to handle that matter properly”.
He added that “INEC appears to have a hidden agenda” with the way the distribution of the PVCs was handled by the election umpire.
“With card collection 90 per cent in some places and 42 per cent in others in the same country; there is a problem and they have to solve that problem”, he said.
He expressed disappointment over the non-implementation of the Justice Uwais Report, but was quick to add that their has been reasonable improvement in the electioneering process in the country since its return to democratic rule in 1999.
“As a voter, I know that the credibility of elections has been rising to the extent that one party does not win. The level of rigging has been curtailed” adding that both “local and international observers agree that has been improving election after election”, he stressed.
“In spite of the disappointment and difficulties they encounter from those who are elected”, Prof Darah commended the electorates for coming out election after election to vote adding that they are “very active, dynamic and committed to the course.
“They have confidence in the system and that’s why the system should be improved upon so that people’s confidence will be restored”, he opined.
