Trouble for INEC as Journalist Drags Commission to Court Over Missing PVC, Demands N500 Million as Damage

With the challenges faced by many Nigerians in their effort to collect the Permanent Voters' Cards ahead of the 2023 general election, a journalist has taken legal action against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Adewole Kehinde, a journalist with Swift Reporters, an online news platform filed a suit against INEC over the denial of access to his voter card.

The Punch reports that printouts and text messages exchanged with the commission’s official show that Kehinde had earlier transferred his voter registration from Area 11 to the Nyanya area of Abuja.

Kehinde also stated that his reason for applying for a transfer followed his relocation to his new residence.

However, despite several visits to the commission's office, the journalist was informed that his card cannot be found - details also seen from one of the printouts from INEC's website.

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His words:

“I transferred my Permanent Voters Card in July 2022 from Area 11 by Area 3 junction to my new residence in Nyanya.

“I checked online to confirm that my card was successfully transferred to Nyanya as can be seen on the INEC Website. On getting to INEC Office in Karu under AMAC.

“My slip was collected and after waiting for three hours, I was told my card cannot be found. I filled out a form and was told to come back in two weeks."

Kehinde added that for two weeks, he received the message "Not Seen"

He said:

"Today, Saturday, 4th February 2023 makes it the 7th time I have visited INEC offices to get my PVC but NOT SEEN is what they keep writing on my slip.

“I called the attention of Festus Okoye of INEC to it and he promised to check and get back to me and up till this moment, I have not heard from him."

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Kehinde is asking the court to award him N500m for the damages caused by INEC

In his suit prepared by his lawyer, the journalist is praying the court to award him N500 million as damages as INEC has denied him his fundamental right to vote in the forthcoming 2023 general election.

He said:

“Since INEC wants to deny me my fundamental right to vote, I don’t have a choice but to sue them for N500 million even though my single vote is far above the N500 million.

“There are thousands of Nigerians that have come to me to indicate interest in joining in the suit against INEC, and hopefully by Monday, 7th February, my Lawyer will serve INEC.

“It is either INEC will print my PVC before February 25th, 2023 or the court will stop the election until my PVC is printed and handed over to me.

“INEC cannot just deny my vote and I can’t vote with the old PVC since it has been transferred to Nyanya."

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INEC Makes Fresh Announcement, Releases New Deadline for PVC Collection

The deadline for the collection of Permanent Voters Cards had earlier been extended by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The electoral body announced that PVCs can now be collected until February 5, across all states of the country

According to INEC, this is the second and the last time the commission will be extending the collection of PVCs ahead of the 2023 general elections.

CAN Makes Fresh List of Presidential Candidate Nigerians Should Vote for in February Elections

The Christain Association of Nigeria (CAN) gave a directive to Nigerians on the appropriate candidates to vote for during the forthcoming elections.

Speaking to a congregation of worshippers at the Family Worship Center, the lead pastor, Sarah Omakwu, said she was sent by CAN to pass a message to Nigerians.

CAN has urged Nigerians to ensure they use their PVCs to vote for the right candidates during the 2023 elections. Photo: Peter Obi, PDP, APC Source: Facebook

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Her words:

"So CAN sent me to you, the Christain Association of Nigeria and they said I should say this to you."

Source: Legit.ng