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.
