Purchase of PVC by Politicians? 

Just less than 90 Days to the 2023 General Elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has raised the alarm over  desperate politicians wanting to win by all cost through sharp practices of  buying the Permanent Voters Cards (PVC)from the electorate.

The Election umpire emphasised such unwholesome happening is posing a challenge towards achieving a free, fair and credible election next year. The planned scheme by politicians purchasing (PVCs) in large volume for foul purposes with threat of discrediting the polls. The Acting Chairman of INEC and National Commissioner overseeing the FCT,  Nasarawa, Kaduna and Plateau States, Mohammed Haruna, raised the alarm on Monday during the launch of #YourVoteMatters project by an election observer group, NESSACTION in Abuja where he disclosed that two people have been recently convicted for illegal possession of PVCs in Sokoto and Kano states. The project, supported by the International Foundation for Electoral System, IFES; the United States Agency for International Development (USAID); and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), seeks 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.

The INEC through various sensitisation programmes in the media had warned the electorates to desist from compromising the ownership of their 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.

“In the last couple of weeks, the Nigeria Police has arrested some individuals found to be in illegal possession of voters’ cards in some States of the Federation.

“In one case, the Police have concluded the investigation and handed over the case file to the Commission resulting in the successful prosecution of one Nasiru Idris at a Magistrate Court in Sokoto who was found to be in possession of 101 PVCs in contravention of Sections 117 and 145 of the Electoral Act 2022. He has been sentenced to a year in prison. Similarly the Police in Kano State have arrested a man who was found to be in possession of 367 PVCs. The suspect has been charged to Court and the Commission is pursuing his prosecution.

“The Commission wishes to reiterate that it will continue to pursue all violators of the Electoral Act and ensure their diligent prosecution,” the Commission said.

On PVC collection, the Commission had explained that “following the end of the statutory period for the display of the register of voters for claims and objections, the Commission is determined to make the collection of PVCs as seamless as possible. A Standard Operating Procedure has been developed.”

Many Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) are synergising with INEC towards ensuring a credible polls next year. One of them, the Executive Director of NESSACTION, Ambassador Eniola Cole explained the need that the project slated for implementation in the FCT, Nasarawa, and Plateau states, will provide logistics to incentivise communities with low PVC collection rates which they are imploring the general public to take advantage of the timeframe set by INEC for PVC collection at the Commission’s LGA offices nationwide from December 12, 2022 to January 5, 2023, and at the 8809 Registration Areas from January 6, 2023 to January 22, 2023 including Saturdays and Sundays.

“The public can, through dedicated channels, inform us of their location in order 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. In the last couple of weeks, the Nigeria Police has arrested some individuals found to be in illegal possession of voters’ cards in some States of the Federation.”

INEC has fixed between Dec. 12, 2022, and Jan. 22, 2023, as the dates for PVC collection in all its 774 local government offices nationwide from 9 a.m. to 3p.m. daily, including Saturdays and Sundays. The exercise is expected to be devolved to the 8,809 registration areas and wards from Friday, Jan. 6, to Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023. After Jan. 15, 2023, the exercise will revert to the local government offices of the commission until Jan. 22, 2023.

This should be a period to celebrate brilliant ideas from politicians. There is nothing wrong in a politician trying to convince the electorate to vote him or her into electoral office. It must be done in a peaceful atmosphere. But what we have seen, and read on front pages and editorials of newspapers is a callous tug of war among the Politicians seeing it as a do or die affairs.

At this juncture, INEC must take necessary steps collaboratively with law enforcement agencies in bringing Politicians that are found wanting either sponsoring thugs or party members to face the wrath of the law squarely with severe punishments for others to take cautious. All hands must be on deck as responsible citizens too not to be used to destroy the process of ensuring stability and credibility during the Elections. The Election umpire should engage the public more on Enlightenment programmes that will mould and shape their mindset because when quality leaders are elected into the system there will gradual transformation in Infrastructures, Economy and other social amenities to the benefit of Nigerians.