Group accuses INEC of preventing Muslims to register for PVCs

Director, Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, Professor Isiaq Akintola has raised an alarm that some staff of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC in southwest states are denying some Muslims the right to register for Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs.

He stated this in Ibadan during a stakeholder’s conference organised by Political Awareness Group, PAG, an association of Muslim Professionals and Technocrats in Nigeria.

Prof. Akintola while speaking on thr theme of the conference “2023 General Elections: Nigeria Muslims Decide”, alleged that some staff of INEC are preventing Muslims wearing caps and Hijabs from registering for PVCs in Oyo and other Southwest states.

“They are being deprived by asking them to remove their caps and Hijabs. It is not only in Oyo state but all states in the South West”.

“This is happening only in the South, it is not happening in the North. It is not so in Kano, Kaduna or Niger states. Why is it that they are denying them the right to register?”

“Why are they intimidating Muslims the right to register for PVCs. That means the vote of Muslims will reduce. We are warning INEC to redress this denial and ensure all Muslims are allowed to register for PVCs.

Disenfranchisement is a criminal offence. No one should deny you to register for PVCs.”

However, INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Oyo State, Barrister Mutiu
Agboke explained that there is no policy of the commission that prevents anyone from registering for PVCs because of Hijab.

“If anyone is being denied because of Hijab in Oyo state, such person should make formal complain. But, I know that my staff in Oyo state cannot deny anyone from registering because of Hijab”.

“I want to appeal to you, our Muslim community should sensitive members to register for PVCs and vote for candidates of their choice.

In a welcome address, Chairman, Political Awareness Group, PAG, Barrister AbdWaheed Olowonjaye advised Nigerians who do not have PVCs not to complain of bad governance after the 2023 elections.

He explained that the motive of the conference was to awaken the consciousness of Nigerians Muslims to get their PVCs stressing that anyone who could not get his or her own before the 2023 elections should not complain of bad governance after the winners have emerged.

Barrister Olowonjaye emphasized that the PVC is the only power Nigerians have to change the country for good.

He enjoined INEC to extend the registration deadline so as to allow those who have not register for their PVCs to do so.

He advised those who will emerge as winners of the various elections in 2023 to deliver good governance.

He said, “We are here today as we can see that Nigerians are preparing for 2023 elections. We want to awaken the consciousness of the Muslims. They should get their PVCs and vote for the right candidates.

“We are technocrats and professionals. We want to know how Muslims are preparing for the elections’.

“They should not complain of bad governance if they cannot get their PVC”.

“This is the time to till the land, this is the time to sow the seeds. They should not complain. This is the time to prepare. If we want good governance, this is the time to sow the seeds. They should get their PVC and vote during the elections.