The Independent National Electoral Commission has launched an investigation into the alleged extortion of registered voters in Enugu by one of its staff in the ongoing collection of Permanent Voter Cards.
In a video that has now gone viral, an unidentified official of INEC was seen demanding money before issuing the Permanent Voter Cards to their owners.
In the video sighted by The PUNCH, it was observed the incident happened at Emene primary school in Enugu East Local Government Area of Enugu State where a tall, fair woman, who was said to be an INEC official, speaking partly in the Igbo language, told the people to pay N1,000 each to collect their PVCs.
She said the money was for her transportation to the local government from where they were supposed to pick up their cards.
When confronted by some of the people there about the fact that they were not supposed to pay to collect their PVCs, and that ₦1,000 she demanded was high, she became annoyed and arrogantly asked them to go to the local government and collect their voter cards.
Some registered voters appeared to have paid to collect their PVCs as they were heard thanking her.
But when others kept questioning her demand for money before they could be issued their voter cards, she resorted to verbal attacks. When threatened that she would be reported for indulging in an illegal act, she boasted that nothing could be done to her.
Chief Press Secretary to the INEC chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, in a chat with our correspondent on Monday morning said the Commission is investigating the matter
“This is being investigated,” Oyekanmi said.1
