Group raises concerns over security, PVC collection

The group, the Coalition for Credible Elections 2023, has raised concerns about some “key areas” it believes Nigeria’s electoral arbiter, INEC, should address ahead of the February 25 presidential and National Assembly elections.

“An effective resolution or a non-effective resolution will affect the outcome of the 2023 general election” positively or negatively, Emmanuel Mok, told reporters at a press conference on Wednesday at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI).

The group expressed concern about voter safety and INEC Staff, especially in parts of the country where there is insecurity.

He also spoke about the production and collection of Permanent Voter Cards, voter accreditation, the need for all registered and willing voters to be allowed to vote on Election Day, BVAS proof of incorruptibility.

Another is “election protocol and guarantee of credibility, all uncollected PVCs must be taken to the designated polling unit on the morning of the election for last ditch distribution efforts, polling units in unsafe locations (unregulated locations) challenge the conduct of elections.”

‘concern’

Mr. Mok told journalists that every zone in the country is facing security challenges and there is need for INEC to deliberately pay attention to how the elections will be conducted.

“We must remember the case of farmers going to harvest in Bornu who were attacked, killed and some kidnapped,” he said.

“When the military was asked how this happened, they said that the farmers did not take permission before going to the place.

“Last month, scores were killed and about 100 kidnapped in the north-west because the villagers did not pay the taxes that the bandits did, so we must ask INEC how they plan to hold free and fair elections in all the locations of such serious security challenges.

“We want to use this conference to call a meeting of security agencies, INEC, leaders of political parties and CSOs like us to examine this critical matter and arrive at a workable position on how to ensure peaceful and credible elections around the world. countries where it is possible .”

Mr Mok said if it is not possible, INEC should move polling units in “insecure and unregulated locations” to “havens” created by security agencies.

He added that INEC should ensure the publication of the information so that voters can go in and vote freely without fear.

Speaking on the production, distribution and collection of PVC, Mr. Mok said INEC has not fulfilled its responsibilities.

“This week, my team members went back for their cards and were told they weren’t ready to come back on January 10,” he said.

In November, the chairman of INEC, Yakubu Mahmood said 93,522,272 voters are registered to vote in elections.

The agency remains between December 12 and January 22 as the window for PVC collection in all 774 local government offices nationwide from 9 am to 3 pm every day, including Saturdays and Sundays.

In 17 states and the Federal Capital Territory, no less than 6.7 million Nigerians are yet to collect permanent voter cards.

To solve the problem, the group suggested that PVCs be printed at the registration points and collected within a week.

“INEC must decentralize its printing and collection infrastructure,” he said.

“The central request and distribution protocol should be such that the electoral community of the country’s residents can order the printed material of the card at the end of consumption that can be verified from the distributed stock where the log of registered residents is collected on the basis of LGA, state, and national registration.

He said the 2022 Electoral Act provides that INEC must print and issue voter cards to every registered citizen to exercise their constitutional right to vote.

“Now if INEC does not issue a voter’s card to a registered citizen, that person is removed. That is why INEC can rig the election if it makes it possible for some sections of the population to collect PVCs and other sections are very difficult to collect PVCs.”

“Also if the network fails on the day of the regional election it can be removed, then it must be replaced.”

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Also read: 2023: Get your PVC, CAN get Christians

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Speaking on election materials and logistics assurance, Sonnie Ekwowusi, a member of the group, asked election referees not to engage the services of members of the National Road Transport Workers (NURTW) for logistics.

“We want to see the situation where the election materials – ballot papers, BVAS machines, etc. handling and transport are safe and tamper proof from storage, transit and use,” said the lawyer.

“We advise that the use of NURTW is risky. However, air force, army and police logistics are used from federal to state and then to local government areas.