Afenifere in the 19 Northern states of Nigeria has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to intensify efforts towards ensuring that no Nigerian is disenfranchised in the forthcoming elections.
The group in a statement jointly signed by the Coordinator, Chief Toye Ogunsheyi, and Secretary General, Hon. Tunde Oladapo, observed that since the collection and distribution of the Permanent Voter Cards had been extended to March 22, INEC should make the best use of the opportunity to justify the confidence reposed in it.
The statement said the advice become necessary following reports that out of over 12 million Yoruba resident in the nooks and crannies of the northern states, only about 78 per cent of the eligible voters have so far collected their PVCs, while the remaining 22 per cent are yet to collect theirs.
It said Afenifere in the northern states would continue to sensitize the Yoruba to perform their civic responsibility in order to enthrone good democracy in the country.
The statement added: “INEC should buckle up and mend up all loopholes capable of checkmating all shortcomings, and the commission should decentralize its distribution network and if possible carry the field mock demonstration of the card reader machines to other states which has not seeing the workability of the machine.
“Like other patriotic citizens of this nation, Yoruba should perform their civic duties and take the PVC collections serious as it serves as gateway to elect party of the choice to govern.”
The group advised the INEC Chairman, Prof. Attairu Jega, to be watchful and careful of some of the commission’s staff whose actions and behaviour give the public the feelings that INEC is biased and doing the hatchet job for some political parties.
The Afenifere Northern States therefore urged INEC to be sincere in its activities to all Nigerians regardless of tribal, political, religious and geographical sentiments and find solution to many salient issues confronting the nation.
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