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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned anyone buying Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) ahead of the 2023 general election to desist, noting that identity theft may deprive many Nigerians from voting.
The commission said such people are only wasting their time, energy and resources.
Speaking in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, during a training programme for journalists, organized by the state Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), in collaboration with the commission, INEC’s National Commissioner in charge of Voter Education and Publicity- Festus Okoye, noted that technology has helped the electoral umpire to curb vote-buying.
He said the commission now deals with the fingerprints and faces of voters, which makes it difficult for impersonation.
“If your finger did not match, then your face must match. If your fingerprint did not match and your face did not match, then you cannot vote. That means you are not the owner of the PVC. That is identity theft,” Okoye said.
The national commissioner, who was represented by the Deputy Director in charge of the Gender Department, Ndidi Okafor, said anyone buying PVCs is embarking on an exercise in futility.
Okoye also said journalists play critical roles in deepening democracy, hence the need for the training at a time Nigeria is approaching another general election.
“It’s because the media is a stakeholder, a critical stakeholder for that matter. So, I want to appeal to you the media, you are a stakeholder.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that Identity theft occurs when someone uses another person’s personally identifying information, like a person’s name, Social Security number, or credit card number or other financial information, without permission, to commit fraud or other crimes.
Also, Identity theft happens when someone takes your name and personal information (like your social security number or PVC) and uses it without your permission to do.