THE Coalition for Peter Obi (CPO), a group of supporters of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) Peter Obi, has warned that 30 million Nigerians would be disenfranchised if the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) fails to extend the deadline for the ongoing voter registration exercise.
INEC had announced July 31 as the deadline of the exercise.
In a statement signed by its Media Director, Tochukwu Ezeoke, the group threatened to embark on a civil protest if INEC refuses to extend the deadline.
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The coalition also demanded an undertaking from INEC that all Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) must be ready at least 60 days before the election date.
The statement reads, “The Coalition for Peter Obi (CPO) is an umbrella organisation made up of various Peter Obi Support Groups with membership drawn from all walks of life, age groups, gender and ethnic nationalities in Nigeria and beyond.
“Our members are spread across the world and have chosen to synergise efforts and resources towards entrenching good governance in Nigeria through a Peter Obi Presidency and continue with our mandates thereafter.
“The Commission is aware that it was established in accordance with Section 153(f) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended). The core functions of the Commission as stipulated in Part I of the Third Schedule to the 1999 Constitution are as listed below with particular emphasis to Sub-section 5 where our concerns are captured.”
It added that Sub-section 5 said INEC shall “Arrange and conduct the registration of persons qualified to vote as well as prepare, maintain and revise the Register of Voters for the purpose of any election under this Constitution.”
“Every eligible citizen has the right to register and vote in democratic elections. However, the right to vote cannot be effectively exercised without a place to register and Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) ready for collection before the date of the election.”
The group maintained that citizens’ right to participate in the election process must not be marred by huddles designed to disenfranchise them.
The group further noted that “the percentage of eligible citizens that had registered and taken part in the previous election had hovered around 35 per cent.
“We believe this number is very poor by every standard measurable and have made a concerted effort to ensure a sharp increase in the numbers through massive nationwide awareness and mobilisation campaigns as evidenced in the surge by new electorates recently.
“It is therefore sad, disappointing and disheartening that the Commission is directly and/or indirectly disenfranchising almost 30 million Nigerians via unacceptable conduct that, in our opinion, is clearly designed to limit the percentage of the population willing to take part in the 2023 election or a suggestion that this is the intention of the Commission.
“We understand that some of our members had to take days off from their respective daily endeavours to register, but sadly and disappointedly, most did not succeed.
“It’s inexplicable and unacceptable that the Commission cannot increase registration devices, staff and registration points for the 2023 election when it became obvious and demonstrably so that there was a huge surge of citizens willing to register for the 2023 Election,” the statement added.
The coalition went further to make a list of demands.
“We have the mandate of our members worldwide to embark on a civil/peaceful protest if the Commission fails to do the following:
1. Extend the deadline for registration until the end of September 2022.
2. Increase Registration Centres, staffs and indeed be flexible to plug into locations provided by citizens in close proximity to their respective places of daily endeavours.
3. An undertaking that all Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) must be ready at least 60 days before the date of the election
4. There must be a platform where citizens can register exploitative and predatorial behaviour by the Commission’s staff at registration centres for swift action”.
A reporter with the ICIR
A Journalist with a niche for quality and a promoter of good governance