The Jama’atu Nasir Islam (JNI) in a bid to sentisize Nigerian Muslims on the importance of exercising their right to franchise has enjoined all Muslims to ensure that they register and get their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in readiness for the 2023 general elections in the country.
The Secretary-General of the group, Sheik Khalid Aliyu had made the open call in Jos and appealed to those that have not collected their PVCs, saying it is only with their PVCs that they could cast their votes in next year’s elections.
He emphasized, “You cannot be making noise or blaming anyone if you don’t have PVC or vote during the election. If you are concerned about the insecurity and the economic hardship In the country, you must come out and vote during the election, as this is the only way you can shout if things don’t go they way they are supposed to go.”
The JNI Secretary-General called on both men and women, young and old, and the children who have attained the age of 18 to ensure that come 2023, they vote, saying that their vote is their right and prayed that the next year’s election will be conducted peacefully.
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) had recently raised an alarm that some staff of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are allegedly denying and banning some Muslims the right to register for Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in some south western states.
Professor Isiaq Akintola who is the MURIC Director had made this disclosure in Ibadan on Sunday while delivering his speech during a programme organised by Political Awareness Group (PAG) an association of Muslim Professionals and Technocrats in Nigeria.
Also attending the programme were the Aare Musulumi of Yoruba land, Edo and Delta states, Alhaji Daud Akinola Makanjuola, who was represented by Alhaji Kazeem Eleta, Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), in Oyo state, Barrister Mutiu Agboke, APC senatorial candidate in Oyo Central district, Dr. Yunus Aknitunde, PAG Chairman, Barrister Abdulwaheed Olowonjaye and other personalities.
Akintola, while speaking at the stakeholders 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, while speaking 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.