Jonathan gives Jega marching order on PVCs

All registered Nigerians must get their permanent voters card (PVCs) to enable them vote in the February elections, President Goodluck Jonathan has directed Attahiru Jega, a professor and chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC).

The issue of PVC has caused apprehension among millions of Nigerians who may be disenfranchised.

Jonathan gave the order at the swearing-in of Akinola Murtala Salau, a professor, as the national commissioner representing Oyo state.

The president said the whole world is watching INEC to see if it can deliver credible elections, and wondered why so many governors and other highly placed Nigerians are yet to get the PVC.

He said: “I believe Professor Jega will even want to double the number of staff if he has the resources to make sure that they can cope. Because Nigerians are getting worried whether INEC can actually conduct elections. Talking about the PVC, even some governors are complaining that they are yet to get their PVC. If governors are yet to get their voters cards of course that means that so many Nigerians are yet to get and people are a bit worried.

“But to me I’m quite pleased with the awareness that has come on board that Nigerians want to have their voter cards. Before 2011, no Nigerian would complain about voters card and that’s why when some politicians talk I just laugh. Before 2011, how many Nigerians complained about not having voters card because elections were not conducted with voters cards. Nobody cared, we wre all adults in Nigeria and we knew what was happening. But some people came on board and sanitised electoral process but others want to take the glory.

“We have to commend ourselves.  ‎That today ordinary Nigerians, biggest business men, religious leaders are complaining I want my voters card, nobody talked about that before 2011. So people should commend us and I’m pleased that people are talking about voters cards.

“So, the chairman of INEC… luckily you are here… all Nigerians must get voters cards, we cannot conduct an election where some people will not have the right to vote. People must decide who rules them at all levels not just about presidential elections, at the lowest level of elections conducted by INEC – the state assembly elections, House of Representatives, Senate and Presidency, all Nigerians must vote and INEC must do everything possible to make sure that all Nigerians have their voters card because we cannot afford a situation where some Nigerians will not vote that day. So Prof. Salau and Prof. Jega I wish you success.”

Jega promised that all Nigerians would get their PVCs before the elections.