953,803 Lagos Voters Queue for PVCs Today
As the collection of Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) commences today, no fewer than 953,803 newly registered voters are expected to line up in INEC offices across the state to collect their PVCs.
The statistics by the Independent National Electoral Commission, Lagos State chapter revealed that there were 6,570,291 registered voters before the commencement of the just concluded Continuous Voter Registration (CVR). Another 953,803 voters were registered during the CVR, making the total number in Lagos reach 7,524,094.
The Commission had announced that the collection of PVCs will commence today and last till January 22, 2023.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Lagos State, Mr. Olusegun Agbaje stated that out of the 6,630,661 PVCs received between 2011 and 2021; 5,676,858 have been distributed as of December 2, 2022.
Agbaje who disclosed that 13,325 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines that would be used for the polls had been received, urged people to visit the INEC offices to collect their PVCs.
He appealed to the people to cooperate with the commission to ensure hitch-free elections in the state.
“Uncollected cards and expected PVCs for the registrants who did fresh registration, transfer or review between January and July 2022 would be available for collection in all INEC offices across the state from next Monday, December 12, 2022.
“The Commission has fixed the collection of Permanent Voters Cards between Monday 12, till January 22, 2023, at the local government area offices of the commission and between January 6 and 15, 2023, at the Registration Area, and Ward level,” he said.
He added: “The Commission has continued to work round the clock towards ensuring that no stone is left unturned for the creation of a very conducive electoral environment for all-inclusive participation of all stakeholders.
“To ensure seamless access of voters to polling units, the number of polling units has risen from 8,464 to 13, 325 in Lagos State which is the largest in Nigeria.”
Meanwhile, it is expected that there will be massive votes in the state. A survey carried out by ECHONEWS across the state indicated that 80 per cent of the registered voters are ready to vote during the 2023 general elections.
While a section of them was undecided, majority of those who spoke to ECHONEWS said they will participate in the elections to elect their choice of those who control their affairs both in Lagos State and Nigeria as a whole.
Few people said they would only vote in the presidential election, saying they are more concern about the Federal Government than the state.
As earlier reported by ECHONEWS, about 16 political parties are presenting candidates to compete for the covetous topmost political post in the state and each party has commenced running around seeking electorate’s support for their victory at the poll.
Some of the parties and their candidates include the incumbent Governor Sanwo-Olu of All Progressives Congress (APC); Abdulazeez Adediran (Jandor) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); Funso Doherty of African Democratic Congress (ADC); and Dickson Olaogun of Accord Party.
Other parties contesting for the governorship of the state include Balogun Abdulrazaq, AA; Layiwola Olajide, AAC; Bamidele Ishola, ADP; Kupoliyi Funmilayo, APM; Adeyemi Roseline, APP; Oluwo Wasiu. BP; Jim-Kamal Olalekan, NNPP; Braithwaite Ishola, NRM and others.
While the preparation for massive campaign by each party is in top gear, public opinions across the state indicate that the APC candidate is currently at the top while PDP and Accord Party are also making frantic efforts towards victory.
In a chat with ECHONEWS, the Zonal Organising Secretary of South West All Progressives Congress (APC), Lateef Ibirogba, said the party is looking at getting at least 4 million votes for the governor and 5 million for the APC presidential candidate in Lagos State.
According to Ibirogba, Lagosians are already keying behind the APC because they want continuity in the infrastructure development engineered by the former governor and the presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and continued by the subsequent governors.
He noted that governor Sanwo-Olu has been doing fantastically well in the development of the state which has endeared the party and its candidates to the electorate.
“Every party would wish to have it all. As a party we believe we have Lagos state’s votes based on the achievements daily recorded in the state. But to be specific, we are not expecting less than 4 million votes for the governor in Lagos State and 5 million for the president,” he said.
He said that the party has been putting up strategies to win the elections but refused to divulge the strategies, saying: “We cannot reveal our strategies for the opponents not to corner us but we are surely strategizing. Lagos State is for APC and we are fully ready to achieve a landslide victory during the 2023 general elections for all the positions right from presidential to the governor to the national and state house of assemblies.”
On his own, the NNPP spokesperson/presidential campaign, Ladipo Johnson said his party is aiming at getting all the votes in Lagos State.
He said the party has also been putting all what it requires to be victorious at poll in place.
“If there are 7 million voters, everyone will be targeting seven million. Though it is not possible most times to get what you want. But the party is working towards winning and ensuring that our party gets the maximum amount of votes we can get from Lagos especially for our presidential candidate. We’re energizing our faith. In Lagos as well we are getting our party ready for the elections. Within next week, we shall present our manifesto and thereafter commence our campaign.”
He said the party will soon hold mega rally in Lagos to sensitize the voters. He, therefore, urged the INEC to make the entire process of the elections to be transparent to avoid rigging.
An official of the PDP who spoke to our correspondent also boasted of victory for his part at the poll.
He said that the party has been strategising from the beginning on its own to win the Lagos State governorship election and also win substantial amount of votes for its presidential candidate.
While it seems that the contest is between AOC and PDP, political analysts believed that it would be difficult for Adeniran of PDP to break the stronghold of APC in Lagos State.
Kehinde Samuel said: “The contest is between Jandor of PDP and the incumbent governor from the ruling party, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu. The other guy whose name you just mentioned will barely get sizeable votes and Jandor will only try, Sanwo-Olu will win for the second time because the calculations are in his favor.
“He is the incumbent and his party leadership is strongly with him. In governance, Sanwo-Olu has been at his best and he will hope to consolidate his achievements when he gets reelected. Jandor might come near but Sanwo-Olu will win.”
Another political watcher, Saheed Akintunde said: “PDP seems to be a stronger force now and I have this belief that they will give APC a run for their money this time around. It won’t be business as usual come 2023.
“Jide Adeniran is contesting to win, unlike the party’s last gubernatorial candidate who was just contesting to make money through negotiation. It will be a serious contest between APC, PDP and let’s say Accord party too because they are there to spoil the vote.
“If either APC or PDP can approach Accord for negotiation it will be a plus to their side because having a loose end might be costly to either of the two strong forces. I can’t say who will win now because it will be a keenly contested election.”
