Much Ado About PVCs!
Edem Ossai,
January 24, 2015
The subject of the collection of INEC Permanent Voters
Cards (PVC) is one of the most discussed issues in the
Nigerian media in recent times. From aspects of INECs poor
handling of the exercise to the poor rate of turn out of the
electorate for collection, analysts evidently cannot exhaust
the topic. This underscores the importance of the exercise.
Factors affecting the Collection of PVCs:
Common perceptions and Sentiments • The elections are going to be rigged or predetermined
one way or the other, so what is the point?
• None of the political candidates is a
credible/suitable option, so why should I
waste my time going to cast a vote
• Politicians are simply not worth wasting time
or trust on. The minute they enter the office
they forget the people who voted them in and
act in their personal interest alone
Factors against PVC collection (Contd)
• What has the government done for me in the
past anyway to justify why I should concern
myself with elections? After all I provide my own
housing, electricity, water, neighbourhood roads,
security, etc. I visit private hospitals, send my
children to private schools, all at my personal
expense.
• The cost of casting my vote (i.e. Leaving the office
obtain PVC, standing in Long queues, risk of
violence by thugs) far outweighs any purported
benefit associated with casting one single vote
Poor organization by INEC
• Absence of INEC officials at the initial polling
units for collection
• Failure to issue cards for numerous citizens
who registered previously in 2011
• Poor information dissemination and service
assistance for citizens with PVC challenges
(e.g. Loss of temporary card, relocation etc)
Negative conduct of politicians
• Reports of pre-election violence (shooting supporters,
violence at campaign rallies, activities of thugs,
bombing and burning campaign offices etc)
• Inflammatory and hate comments by political
candidates which could incite violence and
therefore discourage voter turn-out
• Non emphasis on issues-based campaigns
which leave the voter feeling detached and
non-commital
All we ask for...?
What are ‘they’ there for Sef...?
What have ‘politicians’ done/what will
they do for us...?
Health Care Delivery –
Education –
Employment/Opportunities 4 business creation
Security –
Income and cost of living –
Infrastructural development –
Affordable housing –
Global competiveness –
Social services and standard of living etc
• Quite evidently, the moral rationale
(patriotism, civic duty, Kantian principle of
universal law blah blah blah) for voting during
elections is not sufficient to sway the
reasoning of the sceptical, disillusioned, or
otherwise passive members of the electorate.
So what about the PRUDENTIAL RATIONALE?
Lets talk about some key points - Enlightened Self Interest
- Objective best candidate ( maybe not ‘ideal’)
- Hope as opposed to dead resignation
- The “Shaving Head Principle”
Elections are an ironical subject. While it is often
erroneously represented as though the voter is doing
the politician a favour, this couldn’t be farther from
the truth. It is in actual fact a rare chance each citizen
gets to act purely in his (her) own calculated and
informed interest.
So... act in your interest,
Pick up your PVC
Go out to cast your Vote
Exercise your POWER!