The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has alleged that some politicians have purchased Permanent Voter Cards, (PVCs) in order to rig and mar the credibility of the forthcoming general elections coming up in 2023.
Recall that INEC pronounced the collection of PVCs by prospective voters across the 774 local government areas across the country.
INEC started the process on the 12th of December and it will run till the 27th of January 2023.
The Acting Chairman of INEC and National Commissioner overseeing the FCT, Nasarawa, Kaduna and Plateau states, Mohammed Haruna, raised this alarm on Monday during the launch of #YourVoteMatters project by an election observer group, NESSACTION, in Abuja.
Haruna also added that the commission convicted two persons in Kano and Sokoto states for the illegal possession of PVCs.
He explained further that buying and illegal possession of PVCs for whatever reason is criminal and a punishable offence by law.
“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.” He said.