By Gbenga Oke

Lagos—Lagos State governorship, Senate, House of Representatives and House of Assembly candidates on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday, in Lagos urged the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, to ensure over six million registered voters in Lagos state get their Permanent Voters Cards, PVC, ahead of the elections.

The candidates which include Lagos State governorship candidate, Mr Akinwumi Ambode, the deputy governorship candidate, Mrs Oluranti Adebule, Lagos West senatorial candidate, Mr Olamilekan Adeola, expressed concern over hitches in the distribution and collection of PVC’s in Lagos State.

They spoke at a parley hosted by the party’s governorship candidate, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, at his campaign office in Gbagada.

In his remarks, governorship candidate of APC in Lagos state, Akinwumi Ambode said: “The issue of PVC is critical to successful polls and a commendable electoral system and we demand that INEC provide these tools of change for the masses”.

“Under no circumstances should any eligible registered voter be disenfranchised because of non-availability or collection of PVC, all voters must be able to exercise their rights and choose the candidate of their choice during the polls through every legitimate means” he said.

Also speaking, the deputy governorship candidate, Mrs. Oluranti Adebule, advised INEC to decentralise the distribution and collection of the PVC instead of directing the masses to one point of collection in a whole local government.

In his submission, Lagos West APC senatorial candidate, Hon. Olamilekan Adeola, said no voter should be disenfranchised from voting.

“We believe our party has the support of the people and they should be allowed to vote using their temporary cards since they are registered. It is curious that it is only the APC that has been alerting the public on the PVC issue. Why are other parties not worried about this important issue? It seems there is an hidden agenda that must be thoroughly looked into”. He maintained

Some of the candidates at the parley include Senator Gbenga Ashafa (Lagos East), Hon. Abiodun Faleke (Ikeja Federal Constituency); Hon Adeyemi Alli (Mushin Federal Constituency), Hon Akeem Muniru (Oshodi-Isolo Federal Constituency) and Hon. Wole Diya (Somolu Federal Constituency).

Others were Desmond Elliot (Surulere 1); Hon Olusegun Olulade (Epe); Hon. Rotimi Abiru (Somolu-Bariga), Hon. Tunde Braimoh (Kosofe) and Hon. Tobun Abiodun (Epe) among others.

The candidates therefore urged the electoral body to allow those with Temporary Voter Cards (TVC’s) to exercise their civic obligation during the forthcoming polls if it comes clear that the PVC’s will not go round.