By KEMI KASUMU
In what appears to be a desperate attempt to frustrate Muslim-Muslim ticket to fly or secure votes in South West Nigeria, Muslim faithful in the region are said to have been subjected to yet another case of disenfranchisement as some staff of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are preventing them from registering for Personal Voter’s Card (PVC).
This was revealed by the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), which raised the alarm that some INEC staff are denying some Muslims the right to register for the PVCs in some south western states.
Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola, made this revelation in Ibadan on Sunday while speaking at a programme organised by Political Awareness Group (PAG), an association of Muslim Professionals and Technocrats in Nigeria.
At the programme were the Aare Musulumi of Yoruba Land, Edo and Delta, Alhaji Daud Akinola Makanjuola, who was represented by Alhaji Kazeem Eleta, Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), in Oyo State, Barrister Mutiu Agboke, All Progressives Congress (APC) Senatorial Candidate in Oyo Central District 2023, Dr. Yunus Aknitunde, PAG Chairman, Barrister AbdulWaheed Olowonjaye among other top Muslim dignitaries.
Prof Ishaq Akintola, at the conference theme “2023 General Elections: Nigeria Muslims Decide”, alleged that some INEC staff are preventing Muslims from registering for PVCs in Oyo and other South West states.
He said that MURIC offices have been bombarded with a series of complaints and reports from Oyo and other states in the South West that they were being prevented from registering for PVCs.
Akintola further advised Muslims and Nigerians in general to get their PVCs so as to vote for their preferred candidates.
He urged youths to shun thuggery as he advised Nigerians to shun vote buying.
He said, “Muslims are complaining that they are being deprived of the right to register for PVCs in some states in the South. In all our offices, we have been receiving complaints that Muslims are being deprived the opportunity to register for PVCs.
“They are being deprived by asking them to remove their caps and Hijabs. It is not only in Oyo State but all states in the South West. This is only in the South, it is not happening in the North. It is not so in Kano, Kaduna or Niger states. Why is it that they are denying them the right to register?
“Why are they intimidating Muslims the right to register for PVCs? That means the vote of Muslims will reduce. We are warning INEC not to deny the Muslims the right to register for PVCs. Disenfranchisement is a criminal offence. No one should deny you to register for PVCs.
“We will not ask you to show your PVCs before you come to the mosque. It is for Ummah. The INEC has extended the date of the deadline. Don’t wait till tomorrow. We must get it. You cannot vote with a rosary.
“All Muslim groups should make emphasis on it. It is important that we get our PVCs. Don’t sell your votes. Don’t be involved in vote buying. Don’t get involved in political thuggery, the person who wants to use you is keeping his children at home”.
Agboke, in his remarks, explained that there is no policy of INEC that prevents anyone from registering for PVCs because of Hijab.
He said, “There is no policy of INEC that prevents anyone from registering because of Hijab.
“If anyone is being denied because of Hijab in Oyo State, such a person should make a formal complaint. But, I know that my staff in Oyo state cannot deny anyone from registering because of Hijab.’
