Okpe Union accuses INEC officials in Sapele of corruption over PVC

• ‘Electoral body to examine allegation’
The umbrella body of Okpe-speaking nationality indigenes in Delta State has accused officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Sapele local council of demanding gratification from residents before collection or registration for the Permanent Voter Card (PVC).

The allegation was made via a phone call to The Guardian yesterday by Mr. Omamurhomu Okpako Ayaruja, the Deputy President General (North) of the association, who claimed that officials of the electoral body stationed behind the Sapele stadium were asking residents to pay before they could be captured at the ongoing voters’ registration exercise in the area.

A resident, Mrs. Mary Bender, alleged that officials were collecting the N5000 for group registration as well as N1000 and N1, 500 from individuals who want to either register for the card or exchange their temporary voter identity for the PVC.

“The INEC people prefer to deal with group registration and those who bring money instead of individuals,” she claimed.Bender alleged that the officials asked her to get a court affidavit before her PVC could be released. “Even when I brought the affidavit, they still asked me to bring money,” she added.

Contacted, the Chief Press Secretary to the commission’s chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, said the allegation was strange, as the agency does not demand money from Nigerians before issuing the PVC.He said INEC would investigate the allegation and seek details to facilitate enquiries.