Politicians inducing voters with money, buying PVCs — INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission, on Monday, raised the alarm that some politicians have been buying up Permanent Voter Cards, and financially inducing unsuspecting voters to harvest their Voter Identification Numbers ahead of the 2023 general elections.

Raising the alarm during the inauguration of #YourVoteMatters project by an election observer group, NESSACTION, in Abuja, the National Commissioner overseeing the FCT, Nasarawa, Kaduna and Plateau states, Mohammed Haruna, said two people were recently convicted for illegal possession of PVCs in Sokoto and Kano states.

The INEC National Commissioner, said: “We are aware 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 connect their PVCs, keep it safe, and make sure that on Election Day, you go out there and cast your votes because, of course, without your PVC you cannot vote.”