APC , INEC Accused of Burning non-indigenes PVC’s in Lagos as Ohaneze kicks over disenfranchisement

The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been accused of conniving to burn Permanent Voters Cards (PVC) of non-indigenes in Lagos state as a deliberate move to disenfranchise millions of eligible Nigerian voters.

The allegation was leveled against the Electoral Commission and the leading opposition APC by the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP].

Addressing newsmen on the issue, the PDP's National Publicity Secretary, Olisah Metuh said the APC wants to truncate the democratic process through violence, adding that PDP would not allow that to happen.

"In the APC controlled states especially Lagos, the non-indigenes are being denied the collection of their PVCs. In some places, the non-indigenes' PVCs are even burnt and destroyed. We have records of it and we have asked the non-indigenes involved that if by Saturday, INEC continues with what they are doing in collaboration with APC, we will decide on the next line of action. We will not allow our primary constituencies that we have to be disenfranchised in this election," the party said.

Meanwhile, The Igbo youths independent command organ Ohanaeze Youth Council, OYC (Worldwide) has accused the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega of engaging in acts of nepotism by taking PVC's to his Northern kinsmen at Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp while deliberately disenfranchising Millions of Nigerians especially Igbos.

In a statement Thursday jointly signed by Mazi Okwu Okwu, Mazi, Uzochukwu .C. Uzochukwu, Mazi Francis Oji who are Secretary, BoT of the OYC, Secretary General, of the OYC and President, of the OYC respectively, after its meeting at Ukpor, Anambra state, the OYC said it  had reviewed the processes and state of things as it concerns the 2015 general elections and after thorough investigations, realized that many electorates stand disenfranchised if election is to come as presently staggered by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

In Lieu of that, the organization call on INEC to as a matter of urgency postpone the February 14 and 28 elections, stating clearly that it aligns with "suggestion made by the National Security Adviser, NSA Col. Sambo Dasuki, rtd, that inability of the INEC to distribute PVC cards accordingly is enough basis to postpone the February 2015 slated general electionism"

The OYC further claimed that "more than 20 million Ndi Igbo residing outside Igboland will be disfranchised as they are now making home in multitudes.

"On this note, we call for the postponement of the February- slated 2015 general elections by INEC to enable our Igbo, and other nationality groups forced by ethnic tensions, instability and terrorism, do the statutorily-provided voters card transfer."

The organization noted that transfer of voters card is constitutionally Provisional unlike taking the cards to IDP's camp which is not constitutionally backed.

Giving further insight, the OYC said, "Igbo constitutes 43% of Lagos residents and if this disenfranchisement applies to Lagos’ 4 million plus electorate figures, it means that about 2 million Igbo in Lagos may not vote in 2015 general elections as they now, like their siblings across the nation are leaving in exodus for fear of post elections killings."

Warning that it might be left with no other choice but to seek court injunction barring INEC from proceeding with the Election, the OYC called on the National Assembly to intervene urgently before it gets to that point.

Furthermore, the OYC wondered "How PVC cards are accordingly delivered in the terrorism-hooked North-east even to the concentration camps and the same INEC cannot do so in the peaceful Southern Nigeria? Who is fooling who? Who collected those of the millions of Ndi Igbo that have departed the terrorism-stricken North-east?"

Calls for election postponement has been at it's apex with various interest groups adding their voices on different sides of the divide.

While the APC has repeatedly accused the PDP of deliberately trying to instigate violence that will lead to constitutional crisis to pave way for a postponement, the PDP had denied the claims, stating that it was ready for the polls and would give APC a sweeping defeat.

Few days after some protesters stormed the headquarters of INEC to demand for the postponement of the February 14 and 28 polls, about 16 political parties including five president aspirants added their weight on the pro postponement scale.

The issue heated up the polity yesterday when speculations became rife that the Council of State scheduled to meet Thursday (today) might be cowered into backing the postponement call.

With just nine days to the D-day, it is yet unclear what is in stock for the forthcoming elections as both the anti and pro elections postponement camps are holding firmly to their grounds.