MANY Nigerians are experiencing difficulties in the process of registering for their permanent voter cards (PVCs).
This is despite a statement from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Lagos State assuring the people that it had put adequate security and machinery in place to capture all eligible voters.
Some of the prospective voters who spoke to The ICIR today at the Ojo INEC office, in Igbede, Lagos, said getting a PVC had become an uphill task.
Many of them lamented that they reported early at the INEC office but were not attended to and had to leave in frustration.
Many of them who failed to register online when the portal was opened for registration were directed to get forms from the office and manually fill them.
The INEC insists that the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) process will end on June 30, 2022, having initially extended the deadline for online registration for new PVCs from May 31, 2022.
In Igbede, the process of getting the form was difficult and only those who came early enough were attended to.
Matthew Madu, who described the process as “very frustrating”, narrated his experience, “I have been trying to get the form but they said it had been exhausted. I wonder why the form is exhausted knowing they have a printing machine in there.
“I heard they distributed 15 forms but not all of them have registered. It has been frustrating. The procedures for new voters have not been helpful.”
Similarly, Goodnews Ukoh told The ICIR that he was unattended to because he came by 10am, which was too late, according to the officials.
He said, “I have been here since 10am and have not been attended to. There has also been disorderliness even here on the queue. People that filled the form were just 14. Nobody has gotten the form since then. Some said they came around 5am to 6am just to get the form to register to get their PVC.”
Many other residents were disgruntled at the process as they were locked out of the compound and made to sit outside the INEC office premises, feeling very neglected and frustrated.
Others, who were there to get their biometrics done, also felt the pinch as some of them told The ICIR that INEC’s manpower was low, compared to the crowd that came out en masse to register.
A pastor, who asked not to be named, told The ICIR that there was a need for more registration centres and recruits to assist with the PVC registration process.
He said he came all the way from Igando to Igbede to do the second stage of his registration, which is the biometrics. He, however, noted that he had been forced to also undertake the same process as one who did not register online, which seemed like a waste of his time.
He said, “They should create more centres for registration. A lot of people cannot stay here for long. Men can but women can’t. My appointment for biometrics is 12.15pm. I was here before that time and now it is 3pm, we have not been attended to.
He grumbled, “I came all the way from Igando, but look at the stress and suffering.”
He asked for an extension of the registration process, noting that it had been closed online.
A video had gone viral yesterday on social media of some Igbede residents allegedly being disenfranchised. In the video, INEC officials were accused of preventing some Igbo residents that went to register from doing so.
Igbo traders closed down Alaba market to register for PVC in Okoche LGA HQ today & Lagos thugs were sent to disrupt the process.
They attempted to carry the only @inecnigeria PVC machine at the center but the crowd overpowered them
This is unacceptable!pic.twitter.com/B28zSMKvIT
— Chudé (@chude__) June 9, 2022
One of the residents who spoke to The ICIR over the development said some of the prospective voters had to fight to get through the process.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, in a tweet, explained the situation.
Hundeyin said the mammoth crowd was caused by the fact that the entire Alaba International Market traders decided to close the market on Thursday to enable them register for their PVCs.
He explained that a phased closure would have been better, adding that the violence escalated due to lack of adequate staff.
First, this wasn’t about Igbos. These are the true facts behind the trending videos. The entire Alaba International Market decided to close the market today to enable the traders register for their PVCs. A phased closure would have been better. Consequently, the Ojo Local… https://t.co/JaCafkQ1ez
— SP Benjamin Hundeyin (@BenHundeyin) June 9, 2022
He wrote, “Consequently, the Ojo Local Government venue of the registration, was besieged by a mammoth crowd. The situation was made worse by the fact that only one registration terminal was working.
“One of the people who came for registration made trouble and was challenged by those around. Going by simple probability, the attacker or the attacked is very likely to be Igbo. They were simply large in number.
“However, giving this incident ethnic coloration would not help matters. The entire episode lasted a few minutes. Sadly, recordings from those few minutes are still travelling far and wide.”
He concluded that normalcy had since returned and the Divisional Police Officer there ws fully in charge of the security situation.
This was confirmed by The ICIR when our correspondent visited there today.
The INEC office in Lagos State, in a statement today, assured all residents that adequate security and machinery had been put in place to capture all eligible voters.
The statement, signed by the administrative secretary, James Oludele Popoola, on behalf of the Resident Electoral Commissioner, INEC, Lagos State, said more registration machines had been provided to hasten the PVC process.
It read, “The Commission at this point wishes to inform and assure all residents that adequate security and machinery have been put in place to capture all eligible voters.
“To this end, the Commission has provided more registration (i.e IVED) machines in the state and these IVED machines will be deployed to the 20 Local Government Areas, in addition to what they already have. This deployment will start from Tuesday, 14th June, 2022.
“Also, the Commission will communicate necessary information surrounding the deployment of the machines within the state to stakeholders and leadership of various interest groups.”
The statement encouraged eligible citizens to remain calm and go to the nearest INEC registration centres closest to them.
It added that the Commission would continue to ensure a seamless and stress-free procedure for all Nigerians who wish to participate in the electoral process.
Experienced Business reporter seeking the truth and upholding justice. Covered capital markets, aviation, maritime, road and rail, as well as economy. Email tips to [email protected]. Follow on Twitter @theminentmuyiwa and on Instagram @Hollumuyiwah.