Assistant Editor South East, CHRISTIAN NWOKOCHA, looks at the distribution of the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), implications of possible disenfranchising the electorate in Imo State, and allegations of bribery and bulk purchase of PVCs.
Most voters in Imo State, including All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) governorship candidate, Emmanuel Iheanacho, may be reduced to mere spectators in the elections because of alleged bulk purchase of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
There are also allegations of bribery against officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), who reportedly demand money before issuing PVCs to registrants.
APGA and Ihenacho, who is from Owerri North Council, have threatened to go to court to stop the election. They claimed that if voters cannot vote in the area, a political base of APGA, it will rob the party of victory.
Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) board of trustees and Imo State Elders Council Chairman, warned that disenfranchising voters may throw Nigeria into a political crisis.
It is alleged that the INEC has delivered a large quantity of the PVCs to top politicians across political parties in Imo to create artificial scarcity and prevent people from voting for the candidates of their choice.
Where PVCs are available, some registered voters allegedly pay money at council and ward levels to collect them.
INEC confirms non distribution
Ten of the 12 wards in Owerri North Council are yet to receive their PVCs from Abuja.
INEC Public Relations Officer, Emmanuela Opara, confirmed that the “PVCs belonging to Owerri North Local Government Area are yet to arrive in the state.
“But the PVCs will arrive before the election date of March 28, 2015 for presidential and National Assembly.”
She declined to comment on the fate of those who are not able to collect theirs at the deadline of March 8.
Iwuanyanwu wants PVC test run
Difficulties in collecting the PVCs prompted Iwuanyanwu to urge the INEC to discard the technology, warning that the country may plunge into political turmoil if the INEC fails to conduct a free, fair, and credible ballot.
“The use of the new system will obviously disenfranchise many Nigerians and throw the country into chaos. My advice is that the INEC should test run the new system during bye-elections until Nigerians are used to the new system.
“My fear is that the INEC will not meet the aspirations of many Nigerians and nobody experiments with an important election as that of president, National Assembly and governorship elections in a country as big as Nigeria.
“There is no law that says INEC must use the PVCs,” Iwuanyanwu said.
Alleged purchase of PVC for N2,000
Chris Okeawulonu, Campaign Director of PDP Senatorial candidate, Emeka Ihedioha, disputed the claim by the INEC that it has distributed 69 per cent of PVCs in Imo.
“I am aware that the PVCs are in the hands of top politicians. The APC government in Imo State, led by Governor Rochas Okorocha, has engaged itself in the bulk purchase of PVCs from the electorate.
“They pay as much as N2,000 to get a card,” Okeawulonu alleged.
But Okorocha’s Media Assistant, Sam Onwuemeodo, countered that Okorocha has no reason to buy PVCs.
“If the election is held today, Okorocha will confidently win. The artificial scarcity of the PVCs is caused by the PDP and that is why the INEC insisted that the use of the PVCs for this election will count and to avoid rigging which the PDP is known for,” Onwuemeodo alleged.
“Politicians believe that everything they want must be obtained through manipulation, even the food they eat. The INEC should look inwards to identify those behind the manipulations of PVC collection at various wards and local governments.”
Alleged demand for N500 bribe
A legal practitioner in Owerri, Julius Nwaogu, said he has gone to his Amuzu ward in Aboh Mbaise Council several times without being able to collect his PVC.
A social commentator, Chidiebube Okeoma, alleged that INEC staff at the distribution centre at the Holy Ghost College Owerri, collect bribe to issue the cards.
A resident of Obazu Mbieri ward in Mbaitoli Council, Nokky Ebikam, alleged that INEC staff collect N200 from each registrant before they give them their PVCs.
He suggested that the INEC should hand over the PVCs to traditional rulers for easy distribution.
Elijah Ibeh, a pastor, alleged that INEC staff at Nwaoriubi, the headquarters of Mbaitoli Council, collect N500 from each registrant before they issue them their PVCs.
INEC promises investigation
However, Opara said she has no knowledge of the bribery allegations and promised to investigate.
She exonerated INEC staff from the allegation of bulk purchase of PVCs by politicians, but could not confirm if the INEC has distributed 1,252,030 PVCs out of 1,803,030 registered voters in Imo State as published in newspapers.
When Opara was asked to comment on the limited number of PVCs, faulty distribution, and other challenges faced by the INEC, she became angry and switched off her telephone.
