The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure the arrest of politicians purchasing permanent voter cards (PVCs) from poor Nigerians. The group urged the President to "urgently direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, and appropriate anti-corruption agencies to identify and arrest politicians who are allegedly buying permanent voter cards (PVCs) from poor Nigerians, and promptly bring them to justice".
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recently alleged that some politicians are buying PVCs from poor Nigerians across the country. The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has corroborated the allegations, reportedly stating that some politicians are buying PVCs with N2,000 in the north.
In the letter dated December 17, 2022, and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization said: "Buying of PVCs from poor Nigerians is a threat to fair and representative elections, as it amounts to vote buying, undue influence, and improper electoral influence.
"The allegations that politicians and their sponsors are buying PVCs from poor Nigerians are grave violations of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], the Electoral Act, and the country's international anti-corruption and human rights obligations.”
It noted that swift action to curtail the shameless act and allegations of politicians purchasing PVCs from poor Nigerians would also send a strong message to politicians that your government would not tolerate any infringement of the electoral process ahead of the 2023 general elections".
