Other things being equal, Nigeria’s general election will hold on Saturday, but there are voters who will not take part in the election for no fault of theirs. They do not have their PVC.
The desire to vote is there, but the electoral body has left them disenfranchised.
Sadly, while we still talk about some Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) found in a bush in Anambra, we have people who cannot locate their cards in the area they registered.
The cards are ready, but in a different location. Eniola is one of such persons.
On July 26, 2022, Eniola, a Lagos resident, had hopes that she will be part of voters in the 2023 elections.
But that dream is not a possibility today. She had done her part, as required by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), but today, disenfranchisement is her reality.
Eniola had on the above date gone to the nearest INEC office in Festac Town, Lagos, to apply for her PVC.
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She shared her pathetic story, which had a blend of patriotism, with iBrandTv.
“I got there at 10:32AM and I was told at the gate not to stress myself.
A Chaotic Experience
“Why? I asked, and with a disdainful look the young lad replied, “I de try to help you, but you put cotton wool in your ears, abi; oya go inside, naa, maybe you go know where the beginning dey”.
“I went in anyway, and I was faced with the truth.
“Obfuscated and confused, I gladly turned and left without any words but disappointment.”
Eniola said that while she approached the gate, the young man came again and said: “Madam, you know what? Just come at 5:00AM tomorrow, maybe you’ll be able to register”.
“I understand that the crowd was much, but at the same time I was shocked that I would have to wake up and be at the office by 5:00AM.
“I can’t be here, but I will try,” I told him.
In the morning, by 4:00AM a patriotic Eniola made her way to INECs’ office for the registration.
“I got to the place at 5:13AM and my number was 140.
“Now, don’t get it twisted, people were waiting to apply for their PVC, not that the numbers were forged. Howbeit, it was chaos at the end of the day.
“Some people just kept going in to apply and numbers were not completely followed.
“I was leaving the place at exactly 8:15PM when to my surprise I met this young lad from yesterday.
“He looked straight into my eyes and said, “Sebi, I tell you 5:00AM”?
“When I noticed he had interest in my plight, we got into a bit of discussion, and he asked, “Madam, do you really want this thing?” “Yes, I do,” I replied.
“Ok, legally, come by 2:00AM and illegally, pay $5,000, he said, jokingly.
“I smiled and walked away while I kept thinking about the best solution to my predicament.”
A Restless Night
Eniola told iBrandTv that she had to pass the night at a friend’s place just to make it to the office at the stipulated time.
Ah ah, is it a must to get the PVC? you will ask.
“Yes! I knew that the electoral body will insist that only persons with PVCs will be allowed to vote.”
Today, that is the reality.
“At my friends place, my sleep that night was very restless, and by 1:46AM, I was out of the house which was a trekkable distance. I was lucky I was not approached by some unholy men.
“I got there at 1:57AM am, and my number was 14. This time, I got a number closer to the beginning.
“At the office, the men who saw me were surprised. I was the only lady.
“Haa, Madam, na only you waka come? Where your husband, your brother, and your oga try to leave you for road this kain time?
“So we waited.
“By 4:10AM, the man who calls out the names came, and we all gathered around him to let him know we have been here since 2:00AM, hence he should not play pranks.
“He brought out a list and said while he was at home, his boss had already sent him 60 names.
“We told him to be wise about it by calling 10 from the boss’ list and 20 from those who took pains to be here and not those who will stroll in at 8:00 or 9:00AM.
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“My God, by 7:00AM, the entire place was raving mad and hot.
“The whole place was scattered and there was serious confusion.”
Military Intervention
Furthermore, she said the military had to step in at some point to restore order.
“The military intervention did not work, nor did the combination of police, navy, and more military.
“Eventually I managed to scale through to the front, and when the man handling the list saw me he told the military that I had been there since 2:00AM.
“If you don’t bring that young lady to the front, this gate will not be opened as she has been here since 2 am,” he said, making a case for me.
According to Eniola, after many efforts, she was allowed in with some others.
“This was around 2:00 in the afternoon. Yes! 2:00PM, and the application took just five minutes.
“I was surprised that all the days’ effort were just for a five minutes moment. I felt like a woman who had had an experience with a 2-minute man.
Eniola’s disappointment began after she heard that the PVCs were ready for collection.
She braced up and began another journey for collection.
“I checked my nearest ward and when I got there, I was told my PVC was not available.
“I was told to go to the nearest headquarters, which was where I registered.
“When I got there also, it was the same story.
“Ok, how do I know where it is?
Mysteriously In Abeokuta
So many talks have ended with no conclusion and Eniola decided to try a few things, the first being to check online.
“So I sat with my phone and checked the portal, starting with the first state and local government, and one after the other I searched. From state to state, I searched until I got the information: ‘Voter Information Found’.
“To my awe, it was in Abeokuta, Loburo, Ogun State.
“How did my PVC get there? How did my registration center change?
At the time I found this, the closing date for collection of PVC was just one day away.
Unfortunately, Eniola lost all hopes of voting.
“Honestly, I was too emotionally drained to drag myself to Abeokuta, that is, even if I knew where I was going to begin with; in terms of traveling to vote.
“I registered in Festac, and my PVC is in Ogun State.
What happened? Is there someone who shares same name with me in Ogun State or just INEC’s incompetence in handling voter’s cards?
Indeed, all I have now is to pray for a better Nigeria and that those who will vote will vote wisely.
I hope you have yours and are ready to vote, and if you don’t, what is your story?
