The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it
has noted a deliberate attempt by the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC) to disenfranchise its members and supporters in Lagos
state by refusing to release their Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) to them.
PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh in a statement on Thursday
said the party has observed that officials of INEC are working hand in
gloves with the APC in the state to frustrate the distribution of the
PVCs in PDP strongholds as well as to non-indigenes in the state.
The PDP described the development as “unacceptable, illegal and part of
the criminal plot by the APC to hold on to power in the face of its
dwindling popularity among the people who are now eager to vote enmasse
for the PDP and end APC’s dictatorial rule in the state.
“While we restate our commitment to peaceful and credible elections come
February 14th 2015, we will not accept any attempt to scheme us out in
any state or states controlled by the APC”, the PDP noted.
The PDP said the APC has been jittery over the increasing popularity of
President Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP governorship candidate in the
state, Mr. Olujimi Agbaje and now seeks to compromise the electoral
process by manipulating the distribution of the PVCs.
Stating that INEC has refused to check the trend despite repeated
concerns raised by its state chapter and other well meaning Nigerians,
the PDP said the onus now lies on the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru
Jega and the leadership of the commission to prove their innocence by
immediately intervening and ensuring that all eligible voters in the
state received their PVCs accordingly.
The PDP also demanded that INEC thoroughly investigate the matter and
ensure that all those involved are sanctioned in order to restore
confidence in the electoral process in the state.