Chairman, AGPMPN, Rivers State branch, Dr. Henry Sota, (middle) speaking during the Private Practitioners Week 2014 and CPD programme, Public Private Partnership (PPP) organised by Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria (AGPMPN), Rivers State branch in Port Harcourt recently. With him are HRH. Eze F.C. Eze (right) and Dr. (Mrs) M.B. Sy-nowuke. Photo: Egberi .A. Sampson
Irate Youths and suspected cultists last Friday disrupted the Permanent Voters Card (PVC) collection exercise at Elekahia Community in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area.
The Tide gathered that the Youths stormed the Elekahia Town hall, venue of the exercise in the early hours of the day, and blocked the main entrance to the venue, extorting money from people before allowing them access to the Civic exercise.
The youths harassed and intimated participants at the venue before the intervention of security operatives.
A participant who spoke with The Tide said, “many people were frustrated as they arrived the venue as early as 8am, and stayed till 6pm but were unable to register for the exercise or collect their (PVC).
Another participant who spoke to The Tide, also on condition of anonymity said he had to pay the some of N2,000 to the ‘thugs’ before collecting his PVC.
The process was further hampered by the fact that only one machine was available to service the long line of people. A youth Corper, at the Elekahia, PVC centre, who spoke with The Tide, said the crowd that turned up for the exercise was so much while only one machine was available.
“This delayed the exercise”, he said. The NYSC member also condemned the invasion of the venue by youths and commended he Police for their intervention to keep the situation under control.
Effort to get the reaction of the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, in Rivers State on the matter was not fruitful as at press time, as the phone line of the Resident Electoral Commission did not go through.
It would be recalled that the Rivers State Government had declared last Friday a public holiday to avail some LGAs yet to participate in the National exercise the opportunity to comply accordingly.
Meanwhile, eligible voters from Andoni Local Government Area have expressed dissatisfaction over the poor conduct of the Permanent Voters Card distribution exercise by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the area.
A cross section of voters who expressed their disappointment in an interview with The Tide said many registered voters could not find their PVCs even though their pictures were published and pasted by the electoral body. They also condemned the silence of the Andoni Local Government Council on the issue.
Mr. Richard Igoni told The Tide at Ngo, that the council headquarters said the situation was unfortunate as it painted a picture of conspiracy by some persons to disenfranchised eligible voters.
Igoni who registered at polling Unit 003 in Ward One, Ngo, expressed surprise that out of 672 registered voters in the unit only 144 voters cards was released by INEC despite the fact that the pictures of all registered voters in the unit were pasted.
Another voter, Mr. Ete Uti also told The Tide that, he could not see his card at Unit Four where he registered, stressing that rather than protest the threat of disenfranchise of its citizens, the council chose to remain silent on the issue. Eligible voters from Asarama, Unyeada, Oronaja amongst others also complained of similar experiences.
When confronted the INEC Officer in charge of Andoni Local Government Area who spoke under anonymity urged those affected to report back on Wednesday with their pictures for re-registration.
Taneh Beemene