2015 Polls: Give PVCs to registered voters before elections – Jonathan orders Jega

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President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday gave marching order to the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, to ensure that all eligible registered voters receive their Permanent Voters Card (PVC) before the forthcoming election.
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Jonathan expressed concerns over the litany of complaints across the country over inability of INEC to facilitate easy access of PVC by registered voters.

The president, who spoke while swearing-in the INEC Commissioner in Oyo, Prof. Akinola Murtala Salau, observed that since it was even difficult for some governors to receive PVC, it meant that ordinary Nigerians would be finding it much more difficult.

This was even as Jega assured that “Every registered Nigerian will get his PVC February 14, God willing,” when journalists confronted him with the issues raised by the president.

According to Jonathan, “Talking about PVC, even some governors are complaining that they are yet to get their PVC. If governors are yet to get their voters cards of course that means that so many Nigerians are yet to get and people are a bit worried.

“But to me, I’m quite pleased, not pleased in the negative sense, the awareness that has come on board that Nigerians want to have their voters’ cards. Before 2011, no Nigerian will complain about voters card and that’s why when some politicians talk, I just laugh.

“So, Chairman of INEC, luckily you are here, all Nigerians must get voters’ cards; we cannot conduct an election where some people will not have the right to vote.

“People must decide who rules them at all levels, not just about presidential elections, at the lowest level of elections conducted by INEC – the state assembly elections, House of Representatives, Senate and Presidency, all Nigerians must vote and INEC must do everything possible to make sure that all Nigerians have their voters’ cards, because we cannot have a situation where some Nigerians will not vote that day.”

Jonathan commended Salau and urged him to bring his wealth of experience to bear in ensuring that INEC conducts credible election.

He said: “Prof. Akinola Murtala Salau deserves to be congratulated by all of you, because this is somebody who should have resumed office long ago but because of some issues, government stepped it down.

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