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Quadri Yahya
A legal practitioner, Habeeb Whyte on Thursday, said the deadline by the Independent National Electoral Commission would deny people of their right to vote.
Barr Whyte made it known that INEC has the right to make such a regulation, he however added that “then they must ensure that there is adequate mechanism or processes that will make people to be able to collect it at the right time”.
He said this in a phone interview with PLATFORM TIMES in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital.
PLATFORM TIMES recalls that there have been public outcry that the INEC should extend the deadline slated for June 30, 2022 by 60 days.
PLATFORM TIMES further reports that a Federal High Court in Abuja have on Monday, stopped INEC from ending the Continuous Voter Registration.
The legal practitioner, Habeeb stressed that massive votes would be anticipated in the 2023 general election since people are ready for it.
He added that stopping the registration was similar to disenfranchising the citizens, adding that ‘it is not fair’.
He said: “I want to say that ordinarily, there should not be any time limitation for collection of voter card.
It is like one of the rights of citizens and you are entitled to enjoy it. Even though … some over a year or years, now you want to put a deadline.
“It is an attempt to denial people of their right to vote. It is an attempt to prevent people from participating in our political democracy. It is an attempt to shut out people and it is not fair.
“Why will you put a deadline for collecting it. Why? For what?
“When you know that there is adequate mechanism or processes that will make people to be able to collect it at the right time.”
Barr Habeeb further noted that the process of registering for the exercise was tedious and time-consuming, adding that many might not get the Permanent Voter Card at the end.
“Some people have registered for this thing for long and they are yet to get it. Some have even been on a queue and the hot sun for hours or days and may not be able to get it. And you are giving deadline because you don’t want many people to participate in election.
“To me, with all due respect, I will not agree with INEC that there should be a deadline.
“Even if it is possible, if it is a day to voting day, give me my PVC and let me go and vote the following day. It is my right!
“Our country is a country where you make rules, you’ll say people should go and get PVC, and they are not even getting.
“Imagine people going to INEC centre and you are given a paper, and you go back the following day, and you’ll not be able to get it.
“Do you know the number of people that did not get their PVC in the last election ? It is INEC’s fault, not the people’s fault.
Some people will get the temporary one but will not be able to get the permanent one to vote.
Though INEC has the right to make regulation. It is their right to say this is what they want.
But such regulation is not too good. It is not what is valuable in this periods of ours.
“Some people cannot get PVC because of INEC inefficiency.
“My brother, before now, not many people vote. But as it is, people are now seeing the need to change and participate. Now most people want to get their PVC and they are not getting it”, the lawyer said.
