By Chris Onuoha

LAGOS—The Council of Igbo traditional rulers in Lagos State, under the umbrella of Ndieze Udo N’uzo Ije, has said it has not endorsed any candidate ahead of the forthcoming general elections.

This came as an association, Nigerian Women for Truth, appealed to the chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, to release their permanent voters’ cards, PVCs, and tackle the issues concerning its distributions in the nation before the elections billed for March 28 and April 11.

According to Eze Godian Dim Ojiaku, chairman of the association, who made this declaration while addressing the council of all Igbo rulers in the 57 local government council areas in Lagos State, said the council has not endorsed any candidate for the presidential and governorship elections because it was not impressed with their campaigns, in terms of issues-based topics, quality of communication, peace and safety of the citizenry.

He added that politicians had yet to approach them with their manifestos to explain how it would benefit the common man and the general public.

He said:   “We are not politicians, rather we are opinion leaders with consolidated structure rooted in all the local governments and development centers in South West states mostly Lagos.

“We strongly believe we have a lot to contribute in deciding who wins this election in the area of our domain. We are keen on the interest and welfare of the Igbo people we are protecting here in the South West.”

He said the association was the most recognised custodian of Igbo grassroots overseeing the affairs of Igbo indigenes in Lagos State.

Eze Ojiaku also criticised some Igbo brothers parading themselves as Igbo chiefs in Lagos without proper recognition from the authority, adding that there was only one recognized council of Igbo Chiefs and title holders who determines the proper action of non-indigenes, particularly the Igbos in Lagos.

The traditional ruler enjoined politicians to show more concern about the welfare and security of the citizens and embrace the spirit of sportsmanship in advancing the nation forward.

Meanwhile, an association, Nigerian Women for Truth, has appealed to chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, to release their permanent voters’ cards and tackle the issues concerning its distributions in the nation before the forthcoming election billed for March 28 and April 11.

In a peaceful protest match to the INEC zonal office at Sabo, Yaba, Lagos State, president of the group, Mrs. Kate Onyechere, said:   “It is disheartening the way INEC is handling the distribution of PVCs, especially in Lagos State.

“We are yet to receive our Permanent Voters Cards. We only have our temporary voters’ cards, TVCs, which cannot be used for voting.

“Assuming the presidential election was held on February 14 as scheduled before the change was made, we would automatically be disenfranchised and it is obvious after several visits to INEC offices in some local government areas and councils in Lagos State, we could not get our permanent voters cards, while in some quarters, cards are given to a political group to give to their members at home.”

Onyechere lamented that it would be unfair for women who constitutes a sizeable percentage of voting populace in Nigeria to be denied their civic right to elect the person of their choice.

In response, INEC’s Head of Department, Voters’ Education, Publicity and Gender Issues in Lagos State, Ijeoma Igbokwe, addressed the women on behalf of Lagos Resident Electoral Officer who was on official assignment.

She said INEC was working round the clock to ensure that every issue concerning distribution and collection of PVCs was settled before the March 28 election.

She also appeals to them to be patient and not relent in checking for their PVCs as more voters cards were available for collection.