TheCable

Babatunde Fashola, governor of Lagos state has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to explain the disappearance of 1.447 million voters from Lagos voters’ list.

In a state-wide broadcast on Wednesday, Fashola said he was shocked that INEC announced it would distribute 4.8 million Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) in Lagos state, whereas, during the last election in 2011, the voters’ list in Lagos was 6.247 million voters.

“I am concerned about the report of 4.8 million voters in Lagos state. INEC owes us explanation. During the last election, the voters’ list in Lagos was 6,247,845 voters. We want to know how 1,447,804 million voters disappeared from the voters’ list,” Fashola said.

“I am worried whether this is the beginning of a plan to disenfranchise Lagosians to vote. Our government will stand for all eligible voters to have their names in the register unless INEC could prove why their names were missing on the lists.”

Noting that election process had already begun with the commencement of the distribution of the PVCs, the governor urged voters to register.

“You have to register as a voter to be eligible to vote. We must take it seriously to make sure our names are in the voters register. Go to the polling centre to collect your PVC. No business or job can be more important than to collect your PVC. Between November 7 and November 9, for those who want to collect the PVC, they should go out and collect them.”

Fashola added that those who had not registered previously and those who had lost their temporary voters card could register afresh between November 12 and November 17.

While declaring Friday as work-free day for civil servants to enable them collect their PVCs, the governor appealed to other employers of labour to close early on Friday to allow their workers pick up their cards.