Alleged Manipulation Of PVCs: Prominent Nigerians Call For Jega’s Investigation

SOME Nigerians are calling for immediate investigations into the allegations leveled against Prof. Attaihiru Jega, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). 

A political interest organisation, the Credible Alternative Alliance (CAA), led by former governor of Old Kaduna State,  Alhaji Abdulkadir Balarabe Musa, had accused INEC of manipulating the distribution of Permanent Voters Card (PVCs) to favour areas believed to be strongholds of  the All Progressives’ Congress’ candidate, Gen. Muhammed Buhari (rtd.). Those, who spoke to The Guardian on the matter, said the allegation should be verified and that Jega must clear his name “otherwise he would loose the credibility to conduct the elections.”

  Spokesman of the Yoruba socio-cultural group Afenifere, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, described the allegations as weighty and, if confirmed, amounts to criminal offence of which Jega should not only be sacked with immediate effect but also made to face trial.

   According to him, “Some of the allegations against Jega these days are weighty and he needs to clear his name; otherwise, I don’t think he can be trusted to conduct the 2015 general elections any longer.”

  To the founder, National Advance Party (NAP) and a member of the 2014 National Conference, Dr. Tunji Braithwaite, “The chairman of the electoral umpire should be given that benefit of the doubt to respond to the allegations since they are unverified yet.”

  He said, if, for whatever reason, the allegations are true, “then it is very costly and is something capable of throwing the country in chaos.”

  However, Dr. Braithwaite said that the issue of postponement of election and manipulation of PVC’s will not solve the issue in the country unless we form a Transition Government, which must implement the recommendations of the National Conference before any other election takes place in the country “otherwise, and I want Nigerians to mark my words, if we for whatever reasons go ahead with holding this election whether postponed or as fixed, the country will be thrown into great chaos after the presidential election such that other elections will not hold.”

  The Human Rights lawyer added that the best and only option for now is to set up a transition government.

   Meanwhile, a member of the Presidential Advisory Committee on National Conference, Col. Tony Nyiam (rtd.), affirmed that the allegation against Jega was an open secret, as he averred that there has been interactions between Jega and the other party in the last few month. “We should thank Balarabe Musa for making the secret public,” adding that people were just taking advantage of the tolerance of President Goodluck Jonathan.”

   Nyiam said Nigerians should verify why elections materials are scarce in the southern part of the country whereas it is available in the northern region.

   He also challenged Jega on the fact that he boastfully said he would go ahead with conducting the election when the National Security Adviser (NSA) suggested to the contrary “without Jega even making consultation. At a point the man was behaving as if INEC is not a commission where other top officers should have a say.”

  He further challenged Jega to swear openly with the Holy Quran if he did not hold any discussion with the leadership of those he intended to favour in the coming elections few months ago.”

  But a chieftain of the APC and former Minister of Information, Prince Tony Momoh, dismissed the allegations as nothing but “sponsored allegations to pave way for the incumbent.”

 According to him, “Balarabe Musa is too serious a politician to make such a statement. The fact is the organisation he is heading was simply used but he (Musa) did not issue any statement or grant any press conference, where he made such spurious allegation.

  “I am a senior member of the APC and there was never a time we held any secret meeting with Jega or any representatives of the INEC.”

  He added that the whole issue on the fact that the ruling party and its agents are already concerned about the soaring popularity of Gen. Buhari ahead of the elections, hence they are doing every possible things to bring him down.

   The group in a statement backed its claim with a statistical analysis of the distribution of PVCs, which showed the number of registered voters yet to collect their PVCs in various zones.

  In the South-East has 3,287,530 people have collected PVCs, while in the South West, 7,411,205 people have been given theirs. South-South – 3,844,370, North-East – 2,429,763, North West – 4,835,556, North Central – 3,907,849 and FCT – 421,559.

 The group noted that it has observed “a criminal gross disparity of voter spread designed to tilt the election to a pre-determined outcome”, in the distribution of PVCs.

 The group insists that all the 68.8 million registered voters must be given unfettered access to freely collect their PVCs and cast their votes as provided for in the constitution. It added that it might be forced to take INEC to court if that condition was not met.

   Meanwhile, National Secretary, Labour Party, Dr. Kayode Ajulo said it is indeed surprising that some Nigerians are calling for mere shift of the February 14 election.

   He said what is most desirable at this time given the demonstrated ineptitude, incompetence and utter lack of preparedness of the INEC under the chairmanship of Jega is for him to accept failure and resign honourably or be booted out. 

   According to him, “I have had cause to make this demand on three different occasions, at parties interactive meeting with INEC in Abuja, Pastor Tunde Bakare’s 60th Birthday in Lagos and live interview with Channels TV in Lagos in the past four months; events less than a week to the election have more than validated my demand.