Lawmaker charges voters on PVCs collection
The lawmaker, representing Ajeromi/Ifelodun constituency 1 in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Lukmon Olumoh, has charged eligible voters on collection of their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) at designated centres in the state.
Olumoh, who said this on Thursday at the 8th annual town hall meeting held at the Bola Tinubu Hall, in Ajegunle, said voters’ card is a major eligibility factor for citizens to participate in the 2023 general elections.
WesternPost reports that the Lagos State House of Assembly Assembly held the town hall simultaneously in all the 40 constituencies of the state is to educate the electorate on the importance of voters’ card.
Speaking on the theme “2023 General Elections: The Imperatives of Permanent Voters’ Card.” the lawmaker said : “It is quite worrisome that over 20 million Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) still remain uncollected across the nation, according to a recent INEC report and out of this huge figure, one million are from Lagos State.
“This situation does not augur well for our progress, our democracy and the development of the State as it may create an opportunity for incompetent persons to be elected as our leaders and representatives and thus overturn our achievements.
“As you know, Lagos State has been so blessed with great and visionary leaders and representatives right from the Second Republic in 1979 when Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande came on board as the first civilian governor, supported by a vibrant House of Assembly, and most significantly from 1999 in the Fourth Republic with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu not just emerging as the governor of Lagos State but revered as the architect of modern day Lagos.
“All these were made possible due to citizens actively voting at elections to choose the right candidates.
“Consequently, the Lagos State House of Assembly under the able leadership of Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa wish to reiterate the need for everyone to obtain his or her PVC in order to vote in the coming general election. Your PVC is your power not just to continue building the State but the nation as well; it is your power for continuity, it is your power for the stability and sustainability of our enduring and cherished democracy, it is your power to secure a bright and promising future for our children, our State and the nation,”.
Lamenting the low turn out of people to collect their PVCs in the state, the Electoral Officer, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Ajeromi/Ifelodun Local Government, Mr Alfred Akpojoto, said that the commission had taken bold steps to reduce electoral malpractices by introducing the BVAS.
Akpojoto disclosed that over 4,461 polling points had been converted to polling units in the state, adding that the local government had 734 polling units out of 13,325 existing in the state.
“The commission is using this opportunity to call on all the stakeholders to assist in educating the voters on election and electoral process.
“About 64,744 eligible voters have done online registration before May this year, while 371,760 have completed their registration in Lagos,” he added.
