Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has expressed dissatisfaction with the staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
This came after allegedly denying some Muslims the right to register for Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in some southwestern states.
MURIC Director, Professor Isiaq Akintola, made this disclosure in Ibadan on Sunday, June 26, while delivering his speech during a programme organised by Political Awareness Group (PAG) an association of Muslim Professionals and Technocrats in Nigeria.
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Akintola, while speaking at the stakeholders’ conference theme “2023 general elections: Nigeria Muslims decide”, alleged that some INEC staff are preventing Muslims from registering for PVCs in Oyo and other southwest states.
He said that MURIC offices have been bombarded with a series of complaints and reports from Oyo and other states in the South West that they were being prevented from registering for PVCs.
Akintola, while speaking further, advised Muslims and Nigerians, in general, to get their PVCs so as to vote for their preferred candidates.
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He urged youths to shun thuggery as he advised Nigerians to shun vote-buying.
Akintola added:
Muslims are complaining that they are being deprived of the right to register for PVCs in some states in the South. In all our offices, we have been receiving complaints that Muslims are being deprived the opportunity to register for PVCs.
They are being deprived by asking them to remove their caps and Hijabs. It is not only in Oyo State but all states in the South West. This is only in the South, it is not happening in the North. It is not so in Kano, Kaduna or Niger states. Why is it that they are denying them the right to register?
He further noted;
There is no policy of INEC that prevents anyone from registering because of Hijab.
If anyone is being denied because of Hijab in Oyo State, such a person should make a formal complaint. But, I know that my staff in Oyo state cannot deny anyone from registering because of Hijab.
