From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna
The absence of officials from the Independent National Electoral Commission,( INEC) stalled the commencement of the Permanent Voters Card(PVC) distribution exercise in Kaduna State yesterday.
The residents who trooped to their various polling units were disappointed as the officials were not on ground and there are no reasons for that.
At the Argungu road centre, in Kaduna-North Local government, the crowd were seen looking impatient as they waited for the arrival of the INEC officials.
Similarly the General pump centre in Kaduna South Local government, witnessed large crowd waiting for the officials.
A resident of the area, Ambrose Omale said, as early as 8am, he was at the spot waiting for the INEC official. And as at 12 noon we are still waiting.
However, in some areas the INEC officials were seen issuing the PVC card to registered voters. Although, some complain that their names is missing from the display list.
According to James Makama of Unguwan Maisamari centre, Kaduna North Local Government area, informed this correspondent he was very lucky to collect his card but his brothers and neighbours are not that lucky.
At the Ikara Centre, it is the same story where, Alhaji Bashir Ikara, a community leader said they abandoned all their business to perform their civic duty but unfortunately were disappointed at the absence of the INEC officials who were told that they were still in Kaduna trying to collect the cards.
It will be recalled that Kaduna State Government declared yesterday public holiday to ensure the residents come out to collect their voters card however the reverse is the case as at around 4:30pm some of the residents were seen leaving the centre in anger and disappointment.
However INEC Administrative Secretary, Alhaji Yusuf Hadejia, told Journalists i that over two million Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) is expected to be distributed across the state during the exercise adding
that the issuance of the PVCs would hold in 5,101 Polling Unit across the state.
According to him, that the expected voters’ card to be distributed in the state is 3.5million”but presently N2million is on ground for the distribution and expecting more from Lagos today.
Alhaji Hadejia added that the hitches in some local government might lead to delay in the distribution. According to him ,the distribution of PVC is schedule to take place between 8 – 10 December ,2014 to
enable voter collect collection permanent card at the polling unit they registered
