CLO Accuses INEC Of Frustrating PVCs Collection

The Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) has accused some staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of frustrating the smooth collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in parts of the South-East.

Vincent Ezekwueme, Chairman of CLO in Anambra, revealed this in Enugu on Sunday, saying his organisation was being bombarded with complaints of registrants who claim to suffer tremendously to register and still find it very difficult “if not impossible“ to collect their PVCs in South-East, especially in Anambra.

“An elderly statesman and community leader, Chief Mentus Onwuaso, decried how he tried unsuccessfully three times to register to no avail until the intervention of CLO and still for three times he has been to INEC office to collect his PVC, without success.

“Also, Chief Joseph Okeke lamented that he abandoned his business for three days to obtain his PVC without success.

“A nursing mother, Mrs Elizabeth Obi, told us that she has gone to get her PVC as a patriotic and law abiding citizen but was unsuccessful.

Ezekwueme lamented that these frustration and discouragement may make many residents to abandon many PVCs and disenfranchisement.

He urged the INEC to monitor and fish out the bad eggs among its staff allegedly frustrating the collection of PVCs and prosecute them to deter others.

The CLO boss, however, warned that if urgent and immediate steps were not taken, the voting strength of the entire South-East would be below expectations.

He said: “We reiterate our earlier appeal on INEC to device strategic and less cumbersome ways of PVC distribution.

“Finally, religious, traditional, markets, town unions and civil society organisations leaders should redouble their efforts towards mobilising residents for active participation in the electoral process.”