The Price Of PVC enrollment as lamented by Ayobo-Ipaja residents of Lagos -By Faith Chisom O.

Electorates queued up to vote

This is what citizens reported to pay for the Permanent Voters Card Enrollment.

Rather than being better than Monday 4th of June, Tuesday presented a more terrible platform for citizens to obtain their permanent Voters’ Card (PVC). As not only were the residents of Ayobo CDA put through a rigorous filtering process before some were allowed into the Salvation Army Primary School II, which served as the registration center; and many turned outside, but also, to as many that were in; was a show of poor coordination, consideration and approach.

Residents told of how they had gone through a spectrum of stress the previous day and to avoid anything similar had chosen to appear at the center as early as 6am. This early arrival was observed by many as those who arrived later than 6:30am received number 60 and above. The numbering was done by holding on to pieces of numbered paper(that’ll later on cause more uproar).

The 8:35am arrival of the officials relieved the already bothered minds of the residents who hung around hoping their arrival won’t be as late as the previous day which was well past 10am. The first disappointment came when the officials declared their verdict of allowing entrance to the first 60 people!. But with pleas from those who cared to beg, the number was extended to 70. And as such, residents with the numbers 70 to 100 are therefore to check back tomorrow, and of course start the number system all over.

The biggest shock for the residents came when two ladies of the officials created ugly scenes declaring that they are in charge and therefore declares on their wish, who and who doesn’t enroll for the PVC. These actions of course met uproar and laments from most residents who prayed and hoped they don’t have to go through such unpleasant situation again.

This undying bustling and disorderliness created disappointment and raised questions as to why not one law enforcement agent was designated to the center and why none showed up. “this is when we need the Lagos Neighborhood Service Corps”, lamented bitterly by a resident who’s number was 71 but still hung around hopefully. His statement received a number of responses, many of which questioned the roles of the LNSC in the community.

Two major questions remained unanswered; Why the INEC officials decided to enroll not more than 40 the previous day and 70 on Tuesday. And Why no law enforcement agent was available to savage situation, particularly the LNSC.

Apparently though, both residents who registered and those who didn’t lamented that rather than enrolling for the PVC for free, there was price to pay. The price of absolute discomfort, embarrassment and disappointment; that’s the cost of PVC enrollment for residents of Ayobo-Ipaja.