Fashola collects PVC, condemns election postponement

The Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola has finally collected his Permanent Voters Card (PVC).

The Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola has finally collected his Permanent Voters Card (PVC).

Fashola, as well as the Sultan of Sokoto, had earlier complained that they had not been issued PVCs.

The governor, who collected his PVC in the Surulere Local Government Area of the state, also condemned the postponement of the general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“I think Nigerians must be disappointed by the postponement of the polls from February to March because it seems as if INEC was ambushed to take that decision,” Fashola said.

“The shift will have consequences for us as a nation; the credibility of our governance is regrettably diminished. I do not know of any serious democracy that has set election dates then change them. I think when a country sets a process in motion like this, it ought to know that there would be political and economic consequences,” he added.

Fashola also called the postponement of the polls for security reasons a “low point in governance.”

“Investors watch what is going on. It is really disappointing and when you hear the Federal Government saying they cannot guarantee security, it is more disappointing. Security is the primary responsibility of the government and whether the nation holds election or not, it is the duty of government to provide security,” the governor said.

“If countries like Afghanistan and Syria where there is war, internal conflicts still had elections, I do not see why we can’t. Again, we had elections in 2011 and some of these terror acts had started in 2010. So where was the ability to guarantee security then?” he added.

Fashola however urged Nigerians to stay calm and maintain the peace despite the poll shift adding that in a matter of time, citizens would exercise their right to vote.