An Igala’s sociocultural Organization known as Igala Vanguard ( IV ) has condemned the Independent National Electoral Commission plot ( INEC ) in Kogi State, to reduce Igalas’ vote in the forthcoming 2023 general election.
In a press statement issued on Tuesday being 20th December 2022 by the group’s spokesperson, Engr Lawrence Akpa, the group noted with dismay how “some INEC Staff” in Kogi State have compromised with some politicians doing the bidding of the government of the day in order to deny some Igalas speaking extraction of the state from voting in the forthcoming 2023 election and beyond.
The group said already local Government Chairmen like Dekina, Idah,Omala, Olamaboro have perfected plans along with their Councellors and some National Assembly Candidates to divert PVCs that are already at various local government areas.
Mr Akpa alleged that the newly registered Igalas who are due to collect their Permanent Voters’ Card ( PVCs) are intentionally deprived on a frivolous reason that the PVCs are not ready whereas Councillors from “Kogi Central bribe “some INEC Staff ” to obtain same newly registered PVCs to those people loyal to them in Kogi Central.
Mr Akpa who further condemned INEC conspiracy against Igala however called on the New INEC commissioner in the state and Department of State Security Services ( DSS ), as well as other relevant Institutions to wade into the situation in a view to abruptly stop this injustice against Igalas’ people.
Part of his statement reads:
” We learnt with great dismay how some INEC staff are depriving some newly registered Igalas in the state of collecting their PVCs.
Some of the victims told us that despite the fact that they know on a good authority that the PVCs are ready, some INEC staff who are doing the bidding of the government’s of the day kept on telling them that the PVCs are not ready for collection.
Most disheartening is the fact that some Councillors mostly from “Kogi East ” who are members of All Progressive Party ( APC ) come unhindered to collect the same PVCs in buck for their loyal members and the affected local government mostly are Dekina, Idah, Ankpa, Omala and Olamaboro
We learnt that the new INEC commissioner in the state who is trying to settle down for business is undoubtedly not aware of this crime by some of his staff”.
Meanwhile, the group has threatened to embark on mass protect in the state should authorities concern fail to address the situation immediately.
Recall that INEC has announced in October 2022 that all the PVCs registered before October 2022 were ready for collections perhaps, one wonders why branch of INEC in Kogi State will come up with an excuse that those PVCs are not ready.