The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has expressed regret that politicians are already buying Permanent Voter Cards, or PVCs, to rig and damage the integrity of the process ahead of the upcoming general elections in 2023.
This information is being released as voters from all 774 local government units in the nation head outside to pick up their PVCs. This procedure started on December 12 and is anticipated to be completed by January 27, 2023.
During the Monday launch of the #YourVoteMatters project by an election observer group, NESSACTION, in Abuja, Mohammed Haruna, the Acting Chairman of INEC and National Commissioner in charge of the FCT, Nasarawa, Kaduna, and Plateau states, voiced this warning.
Haruna disclosed that the Commission recently found two people guilty of unlawfully having PVCs in the states of Sokoto and Kano.
He stressed that PVCs are now purchased by politicians and warned voters against selling their cards for any purpose since doing so is an electoral crime.
He said, “Some of you are aware that only recently, INEC managed to convict two people who were found guilty of illegally possessing PVCs in Kano and Sokoto. So, I urge people to collect their PVCs, keep them safely, and make sure you go out there and cast your votes on the election day because you cannot vote without your PVCs.”
