A Katsina-based group, Forum for the Advancement of Democracy and Good Governance, has alleged that a yet-to-be-identified political party have begun sending their agents to nooks and crannies of the state, collecting PVCs under the guise of providing monetary support to the recipients.
The News Agency of Nigeria reported that the group made the allegation in a statement signed and issued by its National Coordinator, Dr. Kabir Ahmed-Malams, to newsmen on Tuesday in Katsina.
The allegation stated that the PVCs were being exchanged for cash by agents of a political party within the state.
The statement read, “Our attention has been drawn to the fraudulent activities of a political party which sends its agents to towns and villages to collect PVCs in the name of giving them monetary assistance.
“These enemies of democracy end up destroying the PVCs by erasing the passport photographs and other key information on the cards, thereby rendering them useless as their owners will be unable to use them during elections.
“This dangerous trend which is widespread in the North-west zone, particularly Katsina State, is aimed at disenfranchising voters as part of a larger scheme to rig the elections.
“While we condemn in strong terms, the unhealthy practice, we urge the prospective voters to resist any attempt to collect their PVCs under whichever guise.”
It further pointed out that PVCs are meant for use during elections and should not be used as a requirement for giving assistance to less-privileged persons.
The group added that the act of collecting the PVCs is a serious offence according to the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022, as Amended.
