Kunle Adelabu
-Call for increase in INEC staff at centres
The collection of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVC) at various wards across lkorodu division kicked off on Friday, January 6, with many residents trooping out to collect their cards.
Prospective voters commended the process which many describing it as seamless, while some, however, said that the process can be made faster if the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) deployed more staff to the centres.
Our reporters visited collection centres in Igbogbo/Bayeku Local Council Development Area, Ikorodu West Local Council Development Area (LCDA) and Ikorodu Central Local Government to observe the collection process.
The INEC officials arrived at Methodist Primary School at exactly 10:17am, while collection of PVCs at the venue started at exactly 10:29am.
One Mr Fred who visited Methodist Primary School, lkorodu, to collect his card, speaking with our reporter, commended the process despite being asked to come back for his PVC.
“My voter’s card was not among those available, so, I was told to come back for it since everything is not available yet. I have seen people coming in to get their cards. The process is going on smoothly”.
Mr David Dawodu, another resident, said that the process is easy.
“Getting the PVC is quite easy, provided you have all your pre – registration documents. Once you presented them here, the official made it easy, and also the coordination of the people too”, he said.
Another resident, Mrs Christana Eshobu, who said that she had visited the INEC office before being directed to the collection center, said that the process of getting her PVC has not been easy.
“It is not easy at all, I have been at the INEC office since yesterday, it didn’t get to my turn and today, I went to their office but I was told to come to Methodist Primary school. I have been sitting down here since 7am, but now I have gotten my own”.
Mrs Nwonku Nkechi who collected her PVC at the Methodist Primary School, Igbogbo, said:
“lt was very easy collecting mine, but at first, when we came in the morning, they did not come on time, and we were told to come back at 10am, but immediately they came, it was easy for me to collect it”.
Ogunsowo Rafiu also saId:
“So far, so good, the collection of the PVC is going on very well. There is no disturbance. It only took me two minutes to get mine”.
At the United African Methodist (Eleja) Primary School, Igbogbo, where our reporters also visited, there were mixed feelings.
A former aspirant for the Lagos State House of Assembly, Ikorodu Constituency II, on the PDP platform, Mr Idowu Hameed Odunayo (Collaboration) who was seen at the Eleja Primary School, said that the situation reflects readiness of the electorate for the election.
“With look of things, I think that Nigerians are getting ready to take power back. This is not the usual way of doing things. Thanks to the INEC officials, things are going fine with people coming in to get their card”.
Mr Babatunde Afuwape, a community leader said that the process is seamless.
“I can confirm that the process is seamless and very encouraging and orderly. As people came in they were given a list from which they were called one after the other. This process is orderly and peaceful”, Mr Afuwape said.
“Nigerians are ready for the next general elections. They are enthusiastic about it”.
Alhaji Oduntan Qudus, APC Secretary, Igbogbo/Bayeku LGA, who also spoke with our reporter, said:
“We really appreciate the efforts of the Federal Government for the process. It’s just so unfortunate that members of staff provided by the INEC are not enough to care for the people, considering the period given for the exercise. If care is not taken, a lot of people will not be able to get their PVCs.
“We are imploring the INEC to bring more staff and further decentralize the collection of PVCs beyond ward level to polling booths”, he added.
Mrs Koiki Olasumbo said that the process was too complex.
“The collection of the PVCs is just too complex. I expected INEC to have settled it right from their Office at GRA, because we should ordinarily come down here to collect the cards. I expect that since they are coming to the wards, that they should have separated the cards according to groups .i.e. those coming for the collection of new ones, and those that are transferring, not making us all passing through the same rigorous ways again”, she said.
“My advice for them is to make things easier by separating the cards accordingly; those that are collecting for the first time, those that are transferring or those whose card are damaged. It should be sorted in that order. We shouldn’t be going through these hardships, things should change”, she added.
Ayeni Oyindamola, who also spoke with our reporter, said:
“I don’t have any complaint, though it was not easy for me here because I came late and I have registered before, that was the reason it was very stressful. Although, no one has been seen having issues with their PVCs collection”.
Another resident, Oshodi Olukayode, described the process as an easy one.
“For me, it was easy because when I got here in the morning, the INEC officials were not on ground then. I went back to work, after some time, I came back because I was checking the time. Anyways, everything has been going on smoothly because we are following the number that we were given upon our arrival, so, everything has been peaceful”.
At the Local Government Primary School, Ipakodo, where our reporters met residents in their large numbers, Mr Opeyemi Orenugu who resides at Ishawo, said that the process of collection was smooth.
“The process is going on smoothly. I believe that based on their experience, they should know how to conduct the exercise. They collected our papers which have been used to search for our names, and we have been giving our PVC one after the other. This exercise is a good one”.
Mrs Ajitaru, in her own submission, said:
“They are organized, even though people are rowdy, but the INEC officials know what they are doing. Although, I have been here since around 9am, the INEC staff came around 10am and immediately they came, they set the process in motion. Thump up to them”, she said.
Another resident who complained that he was at the Ipakodo collection centre for hours, charged INEC to increase its staff at the centre so as to be able to attend to more people and make the process faster.
Furthermore, residents at another centre visited at the Anglican Primary School, Ikorodu, also commended the process.
Mr Olatunji Taiwo, who spoke with THE IMPACT team, said that the electoral umpire and electorate are ready for the 2023 general elections.
“The process is okay, and there is no problem at all”, he said.
“The way I see people and the INEC officials, I can see they are ready for the next election, and they are ready to vote for the president and the governor”, he added.
Mrs Adeniyi Rashedat, an APC member, also said:
“I have been here since 9am, while the INEC official came around 10am. The process is okay. There is no fight, and it is going on successfully. People are collecting their cards as they come”, she said.
