Traders from the popular Alaba International Market, Ojo, yesterday besieged various registration centres in the area to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
The action of the traders followed a directive given to them by the market association on Wednesday.
It was learnt that traders might not be allowed to open for business until they have obtained their voter’s cards.
A mammoth crowd of voters besieged the headquarters of Ojo Local Government on Olojo Drive throughout the better part of yesterday.
A trader, Titus Ogochukwu, who spoke to correspondents who visited the place, said the traders were not bothered about closing their stalls to register for the PVCs.
He said, “The leaders of Alaba market told us that we must get our PVC. The issue was debated and we all agreed to set aside a day for the exercise. During the meeting, we agreed that it will be better on a Thursday, being the day for the weekly environmental sanitation exercise in the market.
“We complied, but we regret the inconvenience it caused our customers some of them came from within and outside the state. Most of the hotels in Ojo are fully booked by customers who came from outside the state. They are waiting for us to open the market for business on Friday.”
Another trader, James Oladimeji, said “We have discovered that our votes can count, so we want to join hands to change the system. It is not a question of Igbo, Yoruba or Hausa, what is happening affects every tribe and we need the best candidate.”
