By Dapo Akinrefon,  Charles Kumolu, Gbenga Oke & Peter Duru

LAGOS — EMINENT Nigerians, yesterday, expressed outrage over the revelation that millions of eligible voters are yet to collect their Permanent Voters’ Card, PVC, in the southern part of Nigeria, describing the development as an indication that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, lacks the capacity to conduct a credible election.

They also suggest that legal measures be employed at making the commission correct the irregularities that have so far characterised the PVC registration and distribution in the South.

There were also suggestions that the commission should make use of the temporary voters cards in places where the PVCs are yet to be distributed.

Vanguard had exclusively reported that barely 41 days to the presidential election, the 2015 electoral map, indicated that there are more PVCs in the hands of prospective voters in the North than those in the South.

Those who were irked by this development are Second Republic lawmaker, Dr. Junaid Mohammed; Constitutional lawyer, Prof Itse Sagay; Human rights lawyer, Chief Emeka Ngige; a retired Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Abubakar Tsav and Afenifere chieftain, Cheif Ayo Adebanjo.

INEC should be restrained from conducting the election—Sagay

In his remarks, Sagay said: “Not only will it lead to mass rigging, it is illegal and contrary to what the self-righteous INEC has been announcing, practising one system here in the south and another in the north.

“This has always been the problem of this country. Every time, the north somehow always wants to have an advantage in everything. It will not follow the normal law and procedure and culture, it prefers to do things its way.

“It is obviously illegal and it is as a result of indulgence that we have been experiencing since the British were ruling us. It simply confirms my view that Professor Jega is not fit to run such a huge organisation as INEC in which not only diligence is required but principle.

“I looked at the statistics and it was very disturbing. Lagos State was recording 43 per cent and in the north, they were recording 87 per cent to almost 90 per cent, in the same country. It does not make sense.

“In my view, the Lagos people should come together and get a restraining order to prevent that election from holding until they all get their Permanent Voters Cards, PVCs, otherwise, it will be a breakdown of our democracy.”

Those with temporary cards should be allowed to vote— Ngige

Similarly, Ngige, said: “From what is happening, INEC is likely not to enforce the use of PVC. It is likely that if you have a temporary voters card, you may be allowed to vote alongside those with permanent PVC.

“My advice to INEC is allow every voter with temporary voters’ card to vote. What the commission should focus on is the issue of multiple voting and registration. That is the only way that will prevent most eligible voters from being disenfranchised.”

INEC should be compelled to do the right thing—Tsav

Tsav on his part said: “Before now, there were rumours that some parties were buying the PVC. INEC dismissed that, insisting that it was in control of the whole process. What we have seen now, shows that the commission has a lot to do regarding its readiness for the elections.

“Those who have called for the postponement of the exercise may not be totally wrong in view of what is happening. But if that that should be done, who will be in charge of the country? Is it still going to be President Jonathan? All peace-loving Nigerians should do everything legally possible to ensure that INEC does not disenfranchise Nigerians.’’

INEC is acting out a script — Mohammed

In his remarks, Junaid said: “This is not the first time INEC will be messing up a national assignment and it is very unfortunate. The first PVC registration was a mess, they failed woefully when they made the second attempt and the third attempt ended in a fiasco. I

” feel they should be ashamed of themselves. INEC blamed power for their system failure. I feel strongly it is a very foolish excuse as we all know that power outage is not new in this country. The same set of people that has been leading INEC are still the same set of people there right now. How do you expect anything to change?

“They cannot conduct a free and fair elections because they will continue to fail woefully with this set of people at the helm of affairs in INEC.

“INEC had four years to organise and prepare themselves for this elections, so they have no excuse to give Nigerians for their failure to conduct a free and fair elections. Calling for another six months extension for this election is not right. I think INEC should be disbanded for its failure to fully prepare for this elections.”

INEC has refused to do its job

— Adebanjo

Opadokun also said: “The elections are here and it will be unfortunate if INEC refused to do its job. If they refused to do it, who will do it for them? So we have to further engage the INEC and ensure the right thing is done ahead of the February general elections. The failure by INEC to ensure people get their PVCs will lead to another failure.”

Catholic Bishops express fears

Meanwhile, Catholic Bishops in Benue State, yesterday, expressed fears over the capacity of the INEC to conduct free, fair and credible polls in the country.

This was contained in a pastoral letter on the 2015 elections jointly signed by the Bishops of Gboko, Katsina-Ala, Makurdi and Otukpo respectively, at the end of the Catholic Prayer Pilgrimage for Peace held at the Saint John’s Catholic Church, Gboko.

They, however, urged INEC to strive to satisfy the yearnings of all Nigerians in 2015.

Entitled, “Let there be peace,’’ the letter read: “In view of the unfortunate challenges encountered in recent elections conducted in some states of the country, there is considerable pessimism regarding the capacity of the commission to organise free, fair and credible elections in 2015.

“But we believe a change can always be effected by those determined to do what is right and noble. Hence, we are all yearning for trustworthy elections in 2015, and it is the responsibility of INEC to satisfy our yearning.

“Since free and fair elections start with good preparations, we earnestly request the commission to ensure that all processes from the registration to the actual voting and beyond are properly and diligently managed in an open, honest and transparent manner.”