Permanent Voters’ Cards, PVC: How INEC failed Nigerians

It was the third phase of distribution of PVC and thirteen states were involved in the exercise which began on Friday, 7th November and ended on Sunday, 9th November 2014.

The states were Adamawa, Borno, Edo, Imo, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Plateau and Rivers.

This exercise had earlier been conducted in twenty one states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Phases I and II.

The exercise involved voters cross-checking their names in the displayed Voters’ Register and collecting permanent voters cards in exchange for the old ones.

When the exercise failed in Lagos, residents took to the streets to protest, storming the Lagos office of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to vent their spleen. The Lagos exercise was scheduled to hold in Agege, Ajeromi-Ifelodun, Ibeju-Lekki, Ifako- Ijaiye, Ikeja, Ikorodu, Kosofe, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, Mushin and Ojo while it was postponed in Alimosho, Amuwo Odofin, Apapa, Badagry, Epe, Oshodi- Isolo, Somolu, Surulere and Eti-Osa from Nov. 28 to Nov. 30.

Tales of woe

Despite declaring a public holiday in Lagos to enable workers obtain the permanent voter’s cards in the areas INEC approved, tales of woe were everywhere as voters lamented their predicament.