Jonathan to INEC: issue PVCs

President Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that registered eligible Nigerians get their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) before the elections.

He spoke yesterday after swearing in the INEC Commissioner representing Oyo State, Prof. Akinola Murtala Salawu, at the Presidential Villa.

Jonathan said it was unacceptable for any eligible Nigerian not to vote in next month’s election because of inability to get his or her PVC.

He said: “I believe Prof. Attahiru 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 the elections.

“Talking about the PVC, some governors are complaining that they are yet to get their PVCs. If governors are yet to get their voter cards, of course, that means that so many Nigerians are yet to get; and people are a bit worried.

“So, the Chairman of INEC, luckily you are here. All Nigerians must get voter 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, but at the lowest level of elections conducted by INEC – the state assembly elections, House of Representatives, Senate and the Presidency.

“All eligible Nigerians must vote and INEC must do everything possible to make sure that all Nigerians have their voter cards. Because we cannot have a situation where some Nigerians will not vote on that day. So, Prof. Salau and Prof. Jega, I wish you success.”

Jonathan noted that the improvement in the electoral system during his tenure gave room for the complaints from various quarters.

He said: “But to me, I’m quite pleased; not pleased in the negative sense. The awareness that has come on board that made Nigerians to want to have their voter cards. Before 2011, no Nigerian will complain about voter card. And that’s why when some politicians talk, I just laugh.

“Before 2011, how many Nigerians complained about not having voter cards? Because elections were not conducted with voter cards. Nobody cared. We are all adults in Nigeria and we know what was happening. Some people came on board and sanitised the electoral process.”

But others want to take the glory.

“We have to commend ourselves that today ordinary Nigerians, businessmen and religious leaders are complaining. Nobody talked about that before 2011. So, people should commend us and I’m please that people are talking about voter cards.”

On the new commissioner, he said: “Prof. Akinola Murtala Salawu deserves to be congratulated by all of you because this is somebody who should have resumed office long ago. But because of some issues, government stepped it down. These are the kind of people we want to put in INEC; people with impeccable character.

“So Prof., we want to charge you to go and demonstrate clearly that you are somebody with an impeccable character and that you will do good to all Nigerians, irrespective of anything.

“INEC is supposed to be absolutely neutral; it’s their work to conduct credible election. Because the whole world is looking at INEC, and you are coming into INEC at a very critical time, with 40 days to election.”

“Every registered Nigerian will get his or her PVC before February 14, God willing.”