President Goodluck Jonathan has directed Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega to ensure that all Nigerians get their voters cards because “we cannot conduct election where some people will not have rights to vote.”
The President while speaking during the swearing-in of the new National Commissioner of INEC, Prof. Akinola Salau, said “Talking about PVCs, even some governors are complaining that they are yet to get theirs. If governors are yet to get their voters’ cards, of course, that means that so many Nigerians are yet to get and people are a bit worried.
“But to me, I am quite pleased, not pleased in the negative sense, the awareness that has come on board that Nigerians want to have their voters’ cards. Before 2011, no Nigerian complained about voters’ cards and that’s why when some politicians talk I just laugh.
“Before 2011, how many Nigerians complained about not having voters’ cards because elections were not conducted with voters’ cards. Nobody cared, we are all adults in Nigeria and we knew what was happening. But some people came on board and sanitised the electoral process but others want to take the glory.
“We have to commend ourselves, that today, the ordinary Nigerians, businessmen, religious leaders are complaining that they want their voters’ cards, nobody talked about that before 2011. So people should commend us and I’m pleased that people are talking about voters cards.
“To the chairman of INEC, luckily you are here, all Nigerians must get their voters’ cards, we cannot conduct an election where some people will not have the rights to vote.
“People must decide who rules them at all levels not just about presidential elections, at the lowest level of elections conducted by INEC – the state assembly elections, House of Representatives, Senate and presidency, all Nigerians must vote, and INEC must do everything possible to make sure that all Nigerians have their voters’ cards because we cannot have a situation where some Nigerians will not vote that day.”
Jega who was also present during the event responded that “every registered Nigerian will get his/her PVC by February 14, God willing!”
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