Most Christians in Enugu on Sunday boycotted Church services for the collection of their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) at the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) collection centers. Some of the electorate told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu that they took the action as Monday would be their last opportunity to collect the PVs, as announced by INEC.
Meanwhile, Thomas Olawuyi, the Electoral Officer, for INEC PVC collection centre in Enugu South said that there had been a large turnout in the collection of PVC. He said that many people had collected their PVC while others were still waiting to collect. He noted that the inability of some electorate to find their PVC could be due to improper capturing during registration. The electoral officer commended the electorate for turning out in their large number for the collection of their PVC. Olawuyi urged them to be patient, assuring them that INEC was ready to distribute PVCs to those who came to collect theirs.
The State also witnessed a massive turnout for the collection of PVCs at the Enugu East LGA on Sunday. The INEC official at the LGA, Mr. John Isong said INEC had been witnessing large crowd since morning. Isong said that as early as 8 am, people were already at the station waiting for arrival of INEC officials. The INEC official expressed dissatisfaction that in spite of intensive sensitization on the PVCs, people never cared to come and collect theirs until this last hour. “I do not know why people refused to do things until the last minute,’’ he said.
In a related development, the Nigerian Army in Enugu has pledged to complement efforts of other collaborating security outfits to beef up security during the forthcoming general elections in the state. The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division, Major- Gen. Abubakar Maikobi made the pledge in Enugu on Sunday at the 8th Walimatul Qur’an and graduation ceremony held at the division Barracks.
Represented by the Director of Education, 82 Division, Brig.-General Aminu Goni, the GOC said Nigerian Army was set to ensure the safety of lives and property in the state and to make the election hitch-free.
“Provision of security during this election is a collaborative effort among security agencies to ensure a hitch free election. The Nigerian Army is part of the collaborative effort and we will ensure the election is violent free. The exact number of armies to be deployed will be dependent on the figure given to us through this collaboration,” he said.
Also, the Chief Imam of Enugu, Iman Zukalawi Saeed, has enjoined indigenes and Muslims to eschew violence during the coming election noting that violence was not the right way to make known perceived injustice. “If you know the true reason for organizing election which is to carefully select a leader whose politics would affect you and your loved ones for at least 4 years, you will know that violence should not be thought of. You will not want to involve yourself in any form of mischief or cause chaos that will deny the people of their choice.”
In his remarks, Lt Col. Mohammed Awali, the Deputy Director of Islamic Affairs, 82 Division, said voters should pray for God’s guidance on the best persons to vote for because he alone knew the heart of man.
PVCs being distributed to voters in Enugu on Sunday
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