There will be no election in 2015, if . . . Cleric

From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna

The former Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and coordinator of Think- Tank in Niger State, Rev. Dr. Mathias Echioda has said that there will be no election in 2015 if majority of eligible voters are not empowered with their permanent voter cards (PVCs) for the election.

The cleric stated this while speaking to journalists yesterday in Minna, urged the INEC to stop the distribution of PVC until the arrival of the rest before embarking on the exercise in the country.

Rev. Echioda lamented over Nigeria’s future saying, ‘we smell rat’ “if INEC formed alliance with any political party then it is very unfortunate and Nigeria has no future as well can’t be proud of better leaders in the future of this country”.

He noted that any administration that attempted to muscle the freedom of the people must be seen as inviting crisis which must not be allowed by good government.

He expressed disappointment over the continued postponement of the distribution of Permanent Voters card PVC for three times and still cannot get it right as no vital reason has been given.

 “I think I smell rat, my question is that whose fault is it INEC or REC or the workings of the system, I wonder if we have a future in the country and if our leaders can take us to promised land”.

Echioda stressed that many Nigerlites would be defranchise with 600,000 PVCs available from 11 LGAs out of 1.4million estimated eligible voters, which has 800,000 shortfall of PVCs from 14 LGAs in Niger state added that 627 polling units declared by INEC to be zero registration units out of 3,187 polling units in the state.

He therefore called on INEC to explain to Nigerians why the hitches of an exercise of these magnitude and who is behind it with immediate effect, adding that, with the inconsistencies in the distribution exercise of PVC, how can INEC assure Nigerians of credible, free and fair election come 2015.