The National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in  charge of Oyo, Ogun and Ekiti states, Professor Lai Olurode, on Tuesday, said that there cannot be 100 per cent distribution of the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) for the March 28 and April 11 elections.

He spoke against the backdrop that Ogun State out of all other states in the federation,recorded the least in PVCs distribution, insisting that this was not in any way, a deliberate attempt to disenfranchise the people of the state.

Olurode stated this while addressing newsmen on the state of distribution and collection of PVCs in the state, that the issue of transfer, multiple registration and dead persons are factors that could be responsible for this development.

The INEC chief noted that not all the remaining 153,185 cards of eligible voters in the state would be ready for the elections,while promising that the part of the outstanding cards are being expected from Abuja.

He explained that it is impossible for the commission to have 100 per cent distribution of the cards not only in Ogun State but in many other states of the country.

Olurode said: “The truth is that it may not be possible for the remaining cards to come before the elections. The number though, is small. We have gone out of the conventional to ensure that the cards are distributed to the owners. We recognised our challenges in this regard.

“There was never a deliberate attempt to punish the people of Ogun State or to inflict any suffering on anybody. The state was not singled out for this.

“We are not happy ourselves that people who registered and have their temporary voter cards in 2011, were yet to have their PVCs. As electoral body, we are not happy as well . We are marketing electoral processes and if you don’t market, you don’t make money. The only way they can expend their resources on the election day is to have their PVCs, that is their political fund.

“You will not be happy to see that you could not expend your political fund. It pains us, but unfortunately, that has happened. We have done our best to make sure that those citizens of this country that are registered are given the opportunity to collect their PVCS.”

“We are now at 82 per cent nationally. A lot of people that registered in 2011 have collected their cards. I cannot only appeal to those who have their TVC and are yet to collect their PVC to exercise patience as another election is around the corner.”