PVC rush: Alleged plot to disenfranchise Ndigbo in Lagos exposed, stakeholders protest ‘No Machines’ in FESTAC, Amuwo-Odofin, others

Concerned Igbos have accused the national electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of a plot to disfranchise eligible voters from the South East of Nigeria, (Igbos) living in Lagos. In a viral video on Thursday, some elderstatemen of the Igbo extraction lamented that machines meant for registering eligible voters for Permanent Voter Card (PVC) were not deployed in areas like FESTAC Town, Amuwo-Odofin, Sattelite Town, Ojo, were Ndigbos are in dominance, as thousands scramble for registration in the areas. A brief statement attached to the viral video has said it was a plot to rig the 2023 elections before the elections will start proper.

News Express reports that in the statement, Ndigbos allege, “FESTAC has only functioning registration centre, Amuwo Odofin has no single registration centre”. They emphasised, “The video is of Greenfield Estate Ago Palace Way. It is being served with only one machine. Registration starts at 12noon and closes at will.” This is so because it’s densely populated by Ndigbo”. Further allegation: “There’s a sharp contrast between what is going on in Oshodi which is assumed to be mostly dominated by the Yoruba. It’s being served with more than 10 machines per boot”.

They charged INEC to rest their fear by correcting the claims and send more machines to the areas. “INEC should step in and change the narratives”.

Meanwhile, INEC yesterday announced the continuation of the CVR exercise nationwide although registration was scheduled to end on June 30, 2022.