By Daud Olatunji

ABEOKUTA—Less than three days to the general elections, hundreds of protesters from three local government areas in Ogun State, yesterday, stormed the state headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Abeokuta, over their failure to get their Permanent Voters’ Cards, PVCs.

The protesters were from Yewa North, Abeokuta South and Abeokuta North Local Government Areas.

Leading the protesters, a medical doctor and a three-time former commissioner in the state, Mr. Isiak Salako, said over 60,000 registered voters from the three local government areas might be disfranchised if they did not get their PVCs before the election holding on Saturday.

Chairman of the Commission, Professor Attahiru Jega

He said: “I have come here leading my people from Yewa North and Abeokuta North Local Government, including Abeokuta South Local Government.

“Over 60,000 of us who have been denied our constitutional right to vote for the candidate of our choice in the forthcoming elections by not having our permanent voters’ cards.

“INEC has insisted that anybody who does not have a permanent voters card will not be allowed to vote. This is my own temporary voters. Up till today (Wednesday), we have not seen our PVCs.”

Addressing the protesters, the head of general administration and procurement, INEC, Ogun State, Mr. Olatoye Olufemi, said the commission was working seriously to ensure that all registered voters get their PVCs, as a member of staff was still in Abuja waiting for remaining consignment for the state.

Meanwhile, as at 5.07pm yesterday, the state was still expecting the balance of 153,185 PVCs from Abuja.

The total registered voters are 1,795,794, while the total number received from Abuja so far is 1,642,607.