Political stakeholders in Ebonyi State have cautioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against giving out Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to politicians and other stakeholders to distribute, saying that it would sabotage electoral body’s sincerity and transparency.
The stakeholders made the observation during a sensitisation campaign organised by the commission for chairmen and secretaries of the political parties in the state at the INEC headquarters in Abakaliki.
In his presentation, Comrade Sabastine Obiya, a chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), alleged that shortly before the 2023 general election in the state, some political stakeholders in the Izzi local government area connived with commission officials and hijacked PVCs belonging to members of the community.
He further alleged that such cards are still in the custody of the stakeholders. He urged INEC to caution its staff, especially those at the local government areas, against conniving with politicians, especially the ruling party, from hijacking PVCs.
“I didn’t make an allegation; I stated an obvious fact. Before the 2023 general election, some stakeholders in Izzi local government had in their possession PVCs belonging to individuals and members of the community.
“If you are a member of the opposition party or if they suspect that you won’t vote for them during the election, they won’t release the card to you and I can tell you authoritatively that those cards are still in their custody.
“The PVCs are cards belonging to individuals and shouldn’t be handed over to interested politicians and stakeholders. Those persons they withheld their cards were disenfranchised and we don’t want a repeat of such act,” he said.
The Secretary of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA Ebonyi State, Mr. Okpara Ogbonnaya, said that a similar incident occurred in Ohaozara local government area of the state and warned that the opposition parties in the state would not fold its hands anymore and allow a few individuals in the commission to sabotage the good intentions of the Commission.
He thanked the resident electoral commissioner (REC), Mrs. Onyeka Pauline Ugochi, for ensuring transparency and a fair playing field for all political parties in the state.
The resident electoral commissioner, Mrs. Ugochi, said that the commission’s staff has been warned against engaging in such conduct, adding that the commission would not hesitate to discipline any staff member who jeopardises the commission’s good intentions.
She expressed concern that Ebonyi participated least in the continuous Voter Registration CVR exercise, adding that the state has participated more as council chairmen, town union presidents, and other stakeholders have been sensitized to the need to encourage eligible persons to participate.
Mrs. Ugochi maintained that the commission has yet to witness any major challenge since the commencement of the exercise, noting that there was a slight network glitch, which she said was a general problem.
