PDP Reacts as INEC Finger Politicians on Buying PVCs From Voters

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed worry over the allegation that some politicians are buying up Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and financially inducing voters.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had alleged that some politicians are buying PVCs from voters to harvest their Voter Identification Numbers (VINs).

Reacting to the allegation in a chat with Vanguard on Monday, PDP Spokesman, Debo Ologunagba, said the alleged purchase of PVCs was a threat to the country’s democracy.

Ologungaba also described the allegation as worrisome, stressing that it should not be taken lightly by President Muhammadu Buhari and the security agencies.

He, however, urged the Police and other security agencies to ensure that the claim was thoroughly investigated and that those found culpable in the ugly trade are apprehended and brought to justice.

He said: “The alarm raised by INEC should not be taken lightly because, in the last couple of weeks, Nigerians have seen an upsurge in the desperate tactics by the ruling All Progressives Congress, to grab and retain power by all means including the purchase of PVCs from gullible people.

“The party has weaponized poverty which it intends to use to cow Nigerians into doing its bidding.

“You will recall the trending video in which the Presidential candidate of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu was seen and heard urging his campaign team members to grab, snatch, and run away with political power by all means. The authenticity of the video has not been denied.

“Nigerians are also aware that it was the same APC candidate, who refused to sign the Peace Accord. The APC and its candidate have also voiced their opposition to the use of BVAS which is an innovation by INEC to improve the quality of our electoral process.

“With all of these tale signs of desperation from the outgoing ruling party, need Nigerians to look any further than the APC? As we speak, the APC candidate is yet to tell Nigerians what he intends to do if in the unlikely event he wins.

“The only opportunity which he was given outside the shores of this country, in Chatham House London to be precise, he bungled it by revealing to Nigerians that he intends to unleash a government by proxy.

“While we await a thorough investigation to unravel the extent to which APCs desperation has led it into seeking to criminally manipulate our electoral process to subvert the will of Nigerians, we implore our security agencies and President Buhari, to remain faithful to their promise to bequeath a credible, free and fair election come 2023.”