INEC’s shortcomings on PVC distribution

The Committee for the Protection of Peoples Mandate (CPPM) based on field observation and reports monitored via the media with regards to distribution of voter cards in Lagos and Ogun states, has come to the inescapable conclusion before the conclusion of the exercise, that the distribution was a big flop, embarrassing, scandalous, a rape on democracy and it is unacceptable.
We observed that the exercise did not commence as scheduled on November 7, 2014 in any polling unit in all the wards in the initial 11 out of 20 local governments in Lagos State which INEC announced at the last minute as take-off points for the first phase of the distribution exercise. This scenario of non-commencement of distribution of PVC by INEC also played out in Ogun State.
Even when the PVC distribution exercise eventually commenced in the 11 local governments of Lagos State on November 8, 2014, in most polling units visited and monitored, INEC personnel arrived at their desks at about 11am, which was three hours behind the scheduled time of 8am to 4pm and they still closed at 4pm prompt. This delay in starting time was also extended to Ogun State from reports monitored.
Again, as the exercise began, INEC personnel were only supplied with necessary sensitive materials for the exercise without adequate provision for their convenience for ease of work and weather considerations. Personnel deployed by INEC for this exercise was grossly inadequate. We as well observed that even in some local governments where distribution of PVC was ongoing, some wards were not participating just because INEC admitted that their PVCs were not available.
We are hereby calling for an immediate extension of the exercise as well as making it a continuous one whereby the electorate can go to the INEC offices at the various local governments to get their PVC. We also want to demand a public apology to the people of Lagos and Ogun states by INEC for this embarrassing and scandalous conduct in the distribution of the PVC.

Nelson Ekujumi,
Lagos