TELL Magazine

The distribution of Permanent Voters Card, PVC by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, which commenced in 11 Local Government Areas, LGA’s in Lagos State today has been marred with late arrival of INEC officials in many polling units across the state.

TELL findings reveal that many residents had arrived at their respective polling units as early as 9.00am, but had to leave the collection venues when it became apparent that INEC officials who were supposed to attend to them, were not forthcoming.

In the Ifako-Gbagada area of Kosofe LGA, the magazine observed that as at 12 noon, there were no INEC officials in many of the polling units in the area.

The situation is also the same in Ikeja. Jane Ameh, a resident of Ikeja who visited the Ikeja Local Government secretariat in order to get her card, told the magazine that up until 1:00pm, there were no signs that the distribution exercise would take place.

“As at 1.00pm, there were no officials on ground at the LG secretariat. In fact some people had started vacating the place because they were apparently tired of waiting,” Ameh said.

In Agege area of Lagos, the situation is the same as eager voters were told to check back tomorrow.

Similarly, in the Agric area of Ikorodu, a resident said that INEC officials were not even present in many parts of the town. The resident, who also said Babatunde Fashola, the governor of Lagos State, paid a courtesy visit to the town to inspect a bridge that is under construction, stressed that there were long queues in many of the polling units but INEC officials were no where to be found.

However, the situation appears limited to certain parts of the state as a residents of Oke-Ira, Ogba confirmed that INEC officials have been on ground as early as 9.00am.

The resident said INEC officials were even appealing to people in the area to come for their permanent voters cards.

In the Iba area of Iyana Iba LGA residents said INEC officials have started attending to people. One of them said she collected her own permanent voters card at about 12 noon.