Reps summon Jega over‘haphazard’distribution of voters’cards

The House of Representatives has summoned chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof. Attahiru Jega to appear before one of its committees over what it described as ‘haphazard’ distribution of permanent voters’ cards (PVCs).

The House gave Jega 48 hours within which he must appear to explain the circumstances behind the shabby distribution of PVCs and the progress report on the exercise so far.

Jega is also required to explain to the committee the modalities to be used in distributing PVCs to other states of the federation where the exercise is yet to take place.

The resolution was sequel to adoption of a motion of national urgent importance by Rep Yakubu Balogun (APC, Lagos).

Balogun said INEC had succeeded in providing Temporary Voters’ Cards used for the conduct of the 2011 elections, saying however that the commission had directed that all holders of Temporary Voters’ Cards would not be allowed to vote in subsequent elections without obtaining the new Permanent Voters’ Cards.

The lawmaker however expressed concern that “available reports from the states where the distribution is presently ongoing indicated that INEC has not been able to effectively replace all the Temporary Voters’ Cards with permanent ones in those states.”

The motion was unanimously adopted and referred to the committee on electoral matters.