PDP in panic over high PVC collection in APC strongholds

There is consternation within the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, over the high rate of Permanent Voter Card collection in geopolitical zones considered to be the strongholds of the opposition and their top challenger, the All Progressives Congress, APC.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, in a document released on Thursday, had said 38,774,391 of 54,341,610 PVCs had been collected by their owners while less than 15,567,219 cards were still with INEC.

PUNCH gathered that the ruling party was uncomfortable with the high number of registered voters in states where the APC presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, is believed to be very popular.

The North-West, believed to be a stronghold of the APC, is the zone where the highest number of PVCs has been collected as of January 7, 2015. Voters in the zone collected 12,013,961 PVCs (30.98 per cent); followed by the South-West with 6,270,736 (16.17 per cent); the South-South, 5,756,018 (14.85 per cent); the North-Central, 5,520,001 (14.24 per cent); the North-East, 4,886,499 (12.60 per cent); South-East, 4,886,499 (10.10 per cent); and the Federal Capital Territory, 411,935 (1.06 per cent).

Not less than 59.75 per cent of the PVCs have been collected in the North-West, the North-East and the South-West, where the APC is perceived to be strong.

The figures of Borno State were not made available by INEC as PVCs have not been distributed there.

Punch correspondents in the states gathered that senior party officials of the PDP were worried that parts of the country were President Goodluck Jonathan is adjudged to be very popular recorded low numbers. Such areas include the South-East and some South-South states.

A member of the PDP National Working Committee, who pleaded anonymity, said, “We have studied the figures and we are concerned about low figures in places we have been banking on for victory.

“Look at the South-East, parts of the South-South and even Lagos, where we have been banking on to get massive votes. Only 53.98 per cent of the PVCs have been collected in Lagos compared with Kano State, 86.63 per cent. We have directed our members to embark on grass roots campaigns on the collection of PVCs.”

Similarly, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Olisah Metuh, admitted that the party was unhappy with the disparity in the distribution of the PVCs.

Metuh said, “Our party members have complained that in their strongholds they have not been able to get the PVCs while some places where we are considered to be a little bit weak achieved almost 90 percent success rate.

“In line with the President’s avowed commitment to free, fair and credible elections, we urge INEC to avail every (eligible) Nigerian the opportunity to vote in next month’s election.

“We as a party stand by what our President said every eligible Nigerian voter should be given the PVC.”

But the APC said it was unimpressed despite the high figures recorded in areas where it is believed to be strong, particularly the North-West.

The National publicity secretary of the party, Mr. Lai Mohammed, said this in response to Punch inquiries.

He explained that in spite of the figures the electoral body churned out, many eligible Nigerians had not collected their PVCs.

Mohammed said, “People have been unable to collect their PVCs. That is the problem we are having. We are not interested in the figures they are churning out.

“I am not impressed one bit about the figures they are publishing. (Many) Nigerians have yet to receive their PVCs. INEC should go back and ensure that every registered voter receives his/her PVC that is what is of paramount importance to us right now.”