From Bode Durojaiye, Oyo.
A week to the general elections, about 20,000 eligible voters in Afijio Local Government area of Oyo State may be disenfranchised as they are yet to be issued their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Already, there are pockets of protests by registered political parties and civil society groups in major towns such as Awe, Akinmorin, Jobele, Fiditi, Iware, Ilora and Imini in the area.
There are 10 wards in the local government area with 77 polling units.
Among those that are yet to be issued the PVCs are the Accord Party House of Assembly candidate, Olusegun Okunlola Olasunkanmi, his PDP counterpart, Chief Sunday Ojo Akindele, All Progressives Congress Chairman, Gani Adeyefa, and his Accord Party counterpart, Gbade Adeyemo.
Speaking with journalists in Ilora, spokesman for the registered parties in the area, Gbade Adeyemo, said out of the 77 polling units in the area, Wards One and Two in Ilora have 22 units, the largest among wards.
He stated that of about 10,221 voters who registered in the two wards, about 50 per cent are yet to get their PVCs.
Adeyemo pointed out that about 60 per cent of voters
have so far received their PVCs at Wards 3,5,6,7 and 10.
“Wards 4, 8 and 9 are seriously affected by non-issuance of PVCs. In Ward 4, Fiditi, there are six polling units with over 2,000 voters located at Ori-Eru, Ebenezer, Oleyo, Catholic, Methodist and Police Station. About 15 per cent of the voters have so far collected their PVCs. Similar situations are applicable to the remaining two wards.
He disclosed that about 35,000 voters registered in the council area, while only 50 per cent so far issued with the PVCs.
Asked whether the parties have formally lodged their complaints to INEC officials in the area, Adeyemo said: “Both the parties and the electorate started besieging the INEC office at Jobele the very day issuance of PVCs begun. We have not stopped complaining and ventilating our displeasure till the present moment.’’
Efforts to contact the Electoral Officer for the Local Government on the matter were to no avail as she was said to be away on official assignment.
Though some of the officials kept sealed lips on the issue when newsmen besieged the INEC office located at Jobele, an official, who spoke on conditions of anonymity, confirmed the development.
He was, however, silent on whether or not the eligible voters, who are yet to collect their PVCs, will be allowed to vote.
