The Inter-Party Advisory Council of Nigeria, Niger State chapter on Mondaydescribed as unacceptable the December 19 to 21 date for the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards, warning that it will boycott the 2015 general elections.
In a statement in Minna over the weekend, signed by the Publicity Secretary, Comrade Abdulazeez Salaudeen, the body condemned the decision of INEC for changing the date from December 12.
It said it is a ground designed by the electoral empire to disenfranchise many Nigerians, especially Christians, who will be observing their Christmas celebration.
IPAC warned that if INEC goes ahead with the exercise, it will mobilize for the boycott of the forthcoming 2015 general election.
The statement, while urging INEC to fix a date in January when all those who might have travelled for the Christmas and New Year break would have returned, warned that it will mobilise Nigerlites in ensuring a total boycott if INEC decides to go on with the exercise as scheduled.
The statement further condemned INEC for exhibiting acts suggestive it is not ready to conduct the 2015 general election with inconsistency in its programmes.
Also, religious leaders, political groups and other interest groups have unanimously condemned the ongoing distribution of PVC in Niger State, describing the exercise as appalling, criminal and unacceptable.
In their separate reactions on the exercise in Minna over the weekend, they called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to stop forthwith the distribution of the PVCs in the spirit of fairness because the period fixed for the exercise coincided with the yuletide when majority of electorates have travelled from their places of residence.
Briefing newsmen in Minna on Monday, the former Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Niger State chapter, Rev. Mathias Echioda, called on INEC to stop the exercise until when all those who may have travelled or will be travelling for the Christmas celebration return to their bases.
Rev. Echioda, who is also the Coordinator of Niger State CAN think-tank and the General Superintendent of Occupied Church Ministries, Minna, said if INEC decided to go ahead with the exercise, it will amount to disenfranchising Nigerians, especially Christians who will be observing the celebration.
According to him: “Why is the distribution of the PVC fixed for this period when many eligible voters would have travelled or will be travelling for Christmas celebration?
“What happens to the PVCs of voters that may have travelled and may not be available for the distribution exercise?”
He said INEC should explain to Nigerians why the PVC distribution, which was initially fixed for November 7, shifted to November 28 and shifted again to December 12 had to be shifted to December 19, adding: “Is it a mark of improper planning, oversight, incompetence or there is a hidden agenda?”
Rev. Echioda pointed out that out of the 1.4 million estimated eligible voters in the state, only 600,000 PVCs were brought for distribution and wondered when will INEC supply the 800,000 shortfall in PVCs to the state before the general election.
He said it is unfortunate that after the exercise had suffered three postponements, INEC still could not produce 1.4 million PVCs as the distribution is only taking place in 11 out of the 25 local government councils in the state.
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