The All Progressives Congress (APC) has raised the alarm that some people suspected to be agents of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have resorted to underhand tactics, including the purchase of Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) and the intimidation of some voters to seize their PVCs, in the wake of the recent shift in dates for the general general elections.
In a statement issued in Lagos on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the opposition party also alleged that a company, Agro-Allied Communities Service Nigeria Limited, has been formed with the purpose of granting N50,000 loan each to ‘empower’ women.
It said, however, that anyone seeking to get the loan must provide her PVC as ‘collateral’, which is basically the essence of the establishment of the company that is supposedly a private concern but in reality a PDP front to mop up PVCs, especially in areas considered to be APC strongholds.
Mohammed said it is now getting clearer by the day what the PDP-led Federal government sought to gain by forcing the postponement of the elections for six weeks – which is to perfect their rigging plans.
He, however, warned those behind the abhorrent acts to desist from such tactics, which he said reflects the desperation by some people to hold on to power at all cost, even when it is clear that Nigerians have widely rejected them due to non-performance, massive corruption and profligacy under their watch.
The APC also appealed to its members and supporters in particular, and Nigerians in general, not to sell their PVCs under any guise, saying that is the only power they have to effect a meaningful change that can ensure the deliverance of democratic dividends to them.
“Our members have alerted us to the fact that PDP agents have been operating in all villages between Kobape and Orile-Imo along the Sagamu-Abeokuta Expressway in Ogun State, giving 10,000 Naira to each poor villager and collecting their PVCs. The PDP agents are also promising each villager a monthly stipend of 10,000 Naira if and when their party assumes office in the state.
“Indications are that this objectionable PVC mop-up is being replicated in all opposition strongholds by the frenzied PDP, hence we at the APC have decided to alert the nation to the reprehensible act”, APC said.
The party also alleged that some Immigration personnel, acting under the guise of arresting illegal aliens with voter cards, are dispossessing a lot of unsuspecting locals in the northern part of the country of their PVCs.
“These unsuspecting people are arrested and their cards seized, all in an attempt to disenfranchise them”, the statement said.
“This act of desperation is totally unacceptable and must stop forthwith. Every voter should be allowed to exercise his or her franchise in accordance with his/her conscience, without intimidation or inducement”, it added. “We hope this is not part of the reasons that the PDP relentlessly campaigned for a postponement of the elections, so it can engage in PVC purchase and the disenfranchisement of innocent Nigerians through harassment and intimidation”.
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