Barr. Mutiu Agboke, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Oyo State, has berated the nonchalant attitude of some residents in the state towards the collection of their Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC), while disclosing that more than 700,000 PVCs are waiting to be collected at the commission’s office.

Agboke, who disclosed this during a programme organised by Political Awareness Group (PAG), an association of Muslim professionals and technocrats in Nigeria, said no political party will emerge winner in the state except the people vote such a person in.

In his words: “Let people come and collect the approximately 700, 000 PVCs that are still uncollected in Oyo State.

“I will not be the one to conduct the 2023 elections. I am leaving in July. In the next two weeks. We should sensitise people. I can tell you confidently that no one will win in Oyo State except the people vote for you”, he added.

While responding to allegations raised by the Director of Muslims Right Concern (MURIC); Isiaq Akintola that some Muslims were being denied the ability to register for PVC in various South-western states due to hijab and cap, the Resident Electoral Commissioner stated that there is no INEC policy that prohibits anyone from registering for PVC because of hijab.

“Muslims should come out and exercise their civic right. We have not announced officially the closure of registration. It currently ends on June 30 but from Nigerian’s yearnings, we might extend it.

“On the issue of niqob and hijab, there is no INEC policy that disqualifies anyone from the registration because of niqob or hijab.

“Even if it has consequences for the election, no member of the INEC staff would prevent a Muslim woman who falls under this category from registering because your face or biometrics are captured”, he stated.

Meanwhile, Aare Musulumi of Yoruba land, Edo and Delta States, Daud Akinola Makanjuola (represented by Kazeem Eleta), Director of Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Isiaq Akintola, APC senatorial candidate in Oyo Central District, Yunus Akintunde, PAG chairman and Abdulwaheed Olowonjaye, were among those present at the meeting.

Barr. Mutiu Agboke, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Oyo State, has berated the nonchalant attitude of some residents in the state towards the collection of their Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC), while disclosing that more than 700,000 PVCs are waiting to be collected at the commission’s office.

Agboke, who disclosed this during a programme organised by Political Awareness Group (PAG), an association of Muslim professionals and technocrats in Nigeria, said no political party will emerge winner in the state except the people vote such a person in.

In his words: “Let people come and collect the approximately 700, 000 PVCs that are still uncollected in Oyo State.

“I will not be the one to conduct the 2023 elections. I am leaving in July. In the next two weeks. We should sensitise people. I can tell you confidently that no one will win in Oyo State except the people vote for you”, he added.

While responding to allegations raised by the Director of Muslims Right Concern (MURIC); Isiaq Akintola that some Muslims were being denied the ability to register for PVC in various South-western states due to hijab and cap, the Resident Electoral Commissioner stated that there is no INEC policy that prohibits anyone from registering for PVC because of hijab.

“Muslims should come out and exercise their civic right. We have not announced officially the closure of registration. It currently ends on June 30 but from Nigerian’s yearnings, we might extend it.

“On the issue of niqob and hijab, there is no INEC policy that disqualifies anyone from the registration because of niqob or hijab.

“Even if it has consequences for the election, no member of the INEC staff would prevent a Muslim woman who falls under this category from registering because your face or biometrics are captured”, he stated.

Meanwhile, Aare Musulumi of Yoruba land, Edo and Delta States, Daud Akinola Makanjuola (represented by Kazeem Eleta), Director of Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Isiaq Akintola, APC senatorial candidate in Oyo Central District, Yunus Akintunde, PAG chairman and Abdulwaheed Olowonjaye, were among those present at the meeting.