The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has strongly denied allegations that its officials are selling Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in the lead-up to the Edo State governorship election scheduled for September 21, 2024.
The claim, which has stirred concerns among the electorate, was made by a civic group called Transparency for Electoral Systems Advocacy (TESA). INEC has labeled the report as false and has called for evidence to substantiate the allegations.
The Permanent Voter Card (PVC) is an essential document for voting in Nigeria. It is issued free of charge to registered voters and is required to cast a ballot in any election. PVCs are critical in ensuring that only registered voters participate in elections, and their proper distribution is crucial for a transparent electoral process.
In response to the accusations, Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, addressed the issue in a statement. He emphasised that INEC does not sell PVCs but issues them free of charge to registered voters. According to Oyekanmi, the commission views these allegations as a recurring pattern seen whenever significant elections approach.
“The Commission does not sell PVCs. We issue them freely to registered voters,” Oyekanmi said. He dismissed the allegations as unfounded and part of a broader trend where similar accusations are made against INEC by partisan groups during critical election periods.
INEC has introduced the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) to enhance the security and credibility of the voting process. BVAS helps ensure that only registered voters with valid PVCs can cast their votes. This system makes it almost impossible for anyone to use someone else’s PVC fraudulently.
Oyekanmi highlighted that any attempt to use uncollected PVCs for voting is futile, as these cards are invalid for voting purposes. He assured that anyone caught attempting such acts would be handed over to law enforcement authorities.
The PVC collection process for the Edo State governorship election began on August 22, 2024, in 192 wards across the state. It is set to continue until August 26, 2024. After this period, PVC collection will move to 18 Local Government Offices from August 28 to September 8, 2024.
“The collection process has only just started,” Oyekanmi noted. He stressed that claims about the sale of PVCs are misleading, given that the process for collecting these cards is still ongoing.
INEC has urged TESA and any other individuals with concrete evidence of unethical behavior by electoral officers to come forward. The commission is committed to investigating any valid claims and taking appropriate action against those involved.
“We encourage TESA and others with evidence of wrongdoing to provide it to us immediately,” Oyekanmi said. He emphasized that INEC is dedicated to upholding the integrity of the electoral process and will act swiftly against any malpractices.
