TheCable

The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) on Wednesday faulted the number of days allotted for the distribution of Permanent Voters Card (PVC) in the state.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had fixed November 7 to November 9 for the distribution of the PVCs in Lagos and six other states.

It also slated November 12 to November 17 for Continuous Voters Registration in the seven states.

Adeyinka Jeje, LASIEC’s permanent secretary, told newsmen in Lagos that three days set aside for the state were grossly inadequate and urged INEC to “reconsider the time allotted for the exercise”.

“Three days for the distribution of the permanent voters card is not enough for a state as big as Lagos and it is not acceptable,” NAN quoted Jeje as saying.

“This is the third phase of the distribution exercise, and in other areas where they have done it, they have had to extend the days when they realised that the time allotted was not enough.

“No matter how well prepared they may be, there will always be hitches, especially the first two days and before they will get it right. It will be the third day and then they will start seeking extension.”

He said that his commission had a constitutional responsibility to advise INEC, especially when it comes to electoral issues that concern the state.

The permanent secretary observed that INEC will require about 14 days to properly handle the distribution of the cards across the state.

He also said there should be no time limit for continuous voter registration.

“By simple understanding, if it is continuous, it cannot at the same time have a time frame,” he said.

On the 2, 400 additional polling units designed for Lagos by INEC, Jeje said that it would help to decongest polling units during elections.

In his reaction, Adekunle Ogumola, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Lagos, said the issuance of the voters card would continue at its local government offices after the formal exercise.