The Coalition of Progressive Political Parties on Monday called on the Federal Government to declare two work-free days to enable eligible voters collect their Permanent Voter Cards.
Alhaji Bashir Ibrahim, the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Movement, one of the affiliates of COP3, made the call in Abuja when he addressed a news conference on behalf of the coalition.
The Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission, Prof. Atahiru Jega, had cited the distribution of the PVCs as one of the reasons for the six weeks postponement of the 2015 general elections.
Ibrahim said it was imperative that as many eligible and registered voters as possible were given the opportunity to vote by making their voter cards available to them.
“Nigerians should remain vigilant and committed to the change they have worked for by ensuring that they used the opportunity of postponement of the election to mobilise communities to collect their PVCs,” he said.
He called on the relevant authorities to ensure that the change in election days did not affect the handover date.
He said: “The handover date of on May 29, 2015 must remain sacrosanct.
“Any attempt to tamper with it will amount to truncating our democracy and putting the peace, unity and political stability of our nation at risk.”
Ibrahim said that of the 26 political parties, 14 supported the idea of postponement of the elections, with 10 others insisting on the initial date, while two others sat on the fence.
NAN.