Lagos Declares Friday Work Free Day For Public Servants

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State has
declared Friday, 7 November , 2014, as a work-
free day for public servants to enable them
participate in the first day of the Permanent
Voters’ Cards, PVCs, distribution by
the Independent National Electoral Commission,
INEC.
The governor made the announcement in a
special state-wide broadcast to residents on the
commencement of the issuance of PVCs by
INEC in the state, held at the State House,
Marina, Lagos.
Dr. Adekunle Ogunmola, the Resident Electoral
Commissioner of INEC in Lagos state, had on 29
October announced that residents in Lagos
would be expected to start collection of their
permanent voters’ cards from 7-9 November,
2014. And Friday is a working day out of the
three days earmarked for collection by INEC.
Fashola had noted that with the commencement
of the process of issuance of PVCs in Lagos, the
process for elections has therefore, started.
INEC boss, Jega.
The governor stated that election is a process,
starting from voters’ registration, to balloting, to
announcement of results and to election petition
and swearing in of elected persons.
“So for the avoidance of any doubt, elections
have started,” Fashola said.
Meanwhile, while commenting on the distribution
of PVCs by INEC, Fashola described the 4.8
million registered voters figure for Lagos State
given by the electoral body as questionable.
According to the governor; “This obligation has
become very important because of the reports
emanating from INEC at a press briefing by the
Resident Electoral Commissioner in Lagos that
the number of voters in Lagos is now 4,800,000.
“This is strange, it is surprising and I believe
INEC owes the people of Lagos a lot of answers
and very quickly too.
“INEC must explain to us how 1,447,845 voter
registration cards disappeared to leave Lagos
with only 4,800,000 registered voters.
“INEC has itself attempted to ascribe the
disappearance of 1,447,845 registered voters on
its register in Lagos to what it calls
“consolidation”; “Business Rule” and AFIS.”
“Lagosians demand to know what these terms
mean. Are they provided for in the Electoral Act?
“Are they INEC’s plans to disenfranchise
Lagosians from exercising their rights to choose
their own representatives?
“Are they part of a plan to confer an undue-
advantage in the next elections to any person or
to frustrate the choice of Lagosians as we have
seen in other states?”
Lagosians would go to the polls next year to
elect new governor after Governor Fashola of
the All Progressives Congress, APC, would have
ruled for eight years.