All Registered Voters Must Get Cards, President Orders Jega

INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega

President Goodluck Jonathan has directed the Independent National Electoral Commission Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, to ensure that all registered Nigerians got their Permanent Voter Cards before next month’s general elections.

The Punch reports Jonathan said after swearing-in the INEC national commissioner representing Oyo State, Prof. Akinola Salau, in Abuja on Wednesday that the nation could not afford to organize a general election where some people would be disenfranchised.

He said, “So the chairman of INEC, all Nigerians must get voter cards; we cannot conduct an election where some people will not have the rights to vote on election days.

“People must decide who should rule them at all levels through elections conducted by INEC.”

The President told Jega he had heard some Nigerians, including  governors,  complaining that they had yet to receive their Permanent Voter Cards.

He however said he was pleased with the complaints because they indicated Nigerians   confidence in the nation’s electoral process.

The President said, “To me, I am quite pleased, not pleased in the negative sense, about the awareness that has come on board.   Nigerians want to have their voter cards.

“Before 2011, no Nigerian   complained about voter cards and that’s why when some politicians talk, I just laugh.

“Some people came on board and sanitized the electoral process but others want to take the glory. We have to commend ourselves.  People should commend us.”

Jonathan advised   INEC to   be neutral in conducting the elections because the eyes of the world would be on Nigeria.

Jega later told State House correspondents that he would ensure that every registered Nigerian got his PVC before February 14.