Christians in Bauchi Local Government Area of Bauchi State, under the aegis of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) have alleged plans by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to disenfranchise them by keeping away the Permanent Voters Card (PVCs) from its members.
Addressing a press conference in Jos, CAN coordinator for Bauchi local government area, Mako Gwamis said if no action was taken, Christians in the local government will not be able to vote.
“Christians in Bauchi LG are facing threat of being disenfranchised if no action is taken to avert the evil plan.”
“Christian dominated areas in the LG like Bayara, Yelwan Tsakanin, Tsakanin Bayara, Gwallameji, Doka, Kagadama, Yelwan-Tudun, Turum, Miri, Yelwan-Makaranta, Rafin Zurfi, Gudum Sayawa, Gudum Hausa, ECWA-1, to mention but a few, having a population of about 10,000 people, who took their time to stand under the sun and registered for the polls, but not up to 2,000 of them have got their PVCs due to INEC deliberate act to make the cards unavailable to their polling units for distribution,” he said.
According to Gwamis, voters in these areas were asked to travel about 40 kilometers to INEC local government office at Kofar Ran, a distance of about 40 km to get their PVCs. Those who managed to go there were however, stranded as there were no INEC officials to attend to them.
He queried why the distribution of the PVCs in Christian dominated areas had to be taken to a different location from where they registered, adding that the Christians are suspecting sabotage.
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