FLEEING NIGERIANS WON’T VOTE IN NEW LOCATIONS – INEC

Nigerians who are fleeing their present abode to their states of origin for fear of outbreak of violence during the February elections would not be allowed to vote in their new locations, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has said.
INEC told the Nigerian Pilot yesterday that such Nigerians with the Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs can only vote if they returned to the places where they obtained the cards. The commission explained that extant laws do not allow electronic voting.
The electoral body’s clarification was at the instance of enquiries by Nigerian Pilot that following the mass exodus of non-indigenes across the country, whether such citizens can vote in their new abodes since they own the PVCs.
According to the Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Mr. Kayode Idowu, “Nigerians fleeing their places of residence will have to return to those places where their PVCs were issued to vote because that is the requirement of the law. The law specifically forbids electronic voting.”
Prior to Idowu’s explanation, INEC had said that Nigerians who may have changed their locations will have to apply for their voting rights to be transferred to their preferred places. It, however, stated that the time for the elections was too close for the commission to embark on such exercise as it is at present occupied with the distribution of PVCs.
Although, all the presidential candidates of political parties had signed a Peace Accord in Abuja to abide by the rules for a violent free elections, reports of pockets of violence has sent fear in the spines of many Nigerians who are now moving in droves to places where they perceived to be safer for them.
Apparently disturbed by the mass exodus of non-indigenes from Niger State for fear of what may happen after next month’s general elections, Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, recently pleaded with them to stop running away from the state.
He said: “I appeal to you not to run away from Minna, and other parts of the state because of the coming elections. The 2015 general elections must be peaceful and results must be accepted whichever way they goe.”
Similarly, northerners in Bayelsa State are fleeing the state for fear of the unknown.
The leader of the Hausa Community in Bayelsa, Alhaji Dahiru Yau Katsina, told newsmen in Yenagoa, the state capital that though they had appealed for calm among Hausa, the mass exodus was worrisome.
Alhaji Katsine said the community had met with authorities of the security agencies and have been assured of adequate protection during and after the elections. He said they were also cautioned against travelling which might result in accidents and loss of their property.
Source: Nigerian Pilot