Abuja, Dec. 13, 2022 -The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has accused politicians of buying-up permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) ahead of the 2023 general elections.
According to INEC, two persons have already been convicted for illegal possession of PVCs in Sokoto and Kano states
Mohammed Haruna, the INEC Acting Chairman and National Commissioner for FCT, Nasarawa, Kaduna and Plateau States, made the allegation in Abuja on Monday during the launch of the #YourVoteMatters# project by an election observer group, NESSACTION.
“We are aware that some politicians are more or less buying the PVCs. If you collect the PVC and then you sell it out or allow someone else to have it, you are aiding illegal possession of the PVC which is an offence in our Electoral Act.
“Some of you are aware that only recently, INEC managed to convict two people who were found guilty of illegal possession of PVCs in Kano and Sokoto.
“So, I urge people to collect their PVCs, keep them safely, and make sure that on election day, you go out there and cast your votes because, of course, without your PVC you cannot vote.”
The NESSACTION project is supported by the International Foundation for Electoral System, the United States Agency for International Development and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
It aims to assist INEC in increasing the number of PVCs collected ahead of the 2023 general elections as well as the voters mobilised on election day.
Eniola Cole, the Executive Director of NESSACTION, said that the project was aimed at creating awareness on PVCs collection and the coming general elections in the country.
She said that the project was also scheduled for the FCT, Nasarawa, and Plateau States to provide logistics and give incentives to communities with low PVC collection rates.
Cole commended INEC for gains already made in the electoral process through technology and other reforms and implore Nigerians to take advantage of the time schedule for PVCs scollection.
“The public can, through dedicated channels, inform us of their location to receive support including the PVC collection buses and community outreach activities to be conducted at the local level in each state by our community mobilisation officers,” she said. (GBN)
