As
the build up to the general election continues, investigations carried out by The Anchor Online have pointed in the direction that candidates and their associates have embarked on the mass purchase of Permanent Voters' Cards.
Checks revealed that in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, strategic buying of voters' cards has commenced across almost all the local government areas. Factors put into consideration before purchase include the strength of such candidates as well as the strength of opponents in the area.
In a certain ward in Ibadan South West Local Government, cards are believed to be on sale for as low as N 3,000. As unbelievable as it seems, a politician disclosed that the motive behind such purchase is to reduce the strength of opponents and also reduce the number of voters that would take part in the election.
The Anchor Online also gathered that the move is usually done swiftly with the aid of agents in targeted areas. Incidentally, the move is usually made in areas that are seen as strongholds of opponents. The agents who are usually residents of the area know who to approach and the targets are usually those who semi undecided or neutral as far as politics is concerned.
A youth leader in one of the leading parties in Oyo State told The Anchor Online that the move even started right from the first collection period. He disclosed that politicians had agents stationed at local government headquarters and almost other collection centres. He said some were offered some money to allow their cards to be checked. The party leader averred that the data base of the Independent National Electoral Commission might have been hacked into, as he alleged that after such cards were collected the serial numbers would be copied before they became reunited with the owners, thereby fuelling speculations that the cards might have been disabled from the central system.
Meanwhile, at the demonstration of the card reader at the Senate, INEC Chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega pointed out that nobody can use another person's PVC. It may therefore not be wrong to conclude that the aim of those buying might actually not be to use them but to disenfranchise people in the strongholds of their opponents.
Checks revealed that in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, strategic buying of voters' cards has commenced across almost all the local government areas. Factors put into consideration before purchase include the strength of such candidates as well as the strength of opponents in the area.
In a certain ward in Ibadan South West Local Government, cards are believed to be on sale for as low as N 3,000. As unbelievable as it seems, a politician disclosed that the motive behind such purchase is to reduce the strength of opponents and also reduce the number of voters that would take part in the election.
The Anchor Online also gathered that the move is usually done swiftly with the aid of agents in targeted areas. Incidentally, the move is usually made in areas that are seen as strongholds of opponents. The agents who are usually residents of the area know who to approach and the targets are usually those who semi undecided or neutral as far as politics is concerned.
A youth leader in one of the leading parties in Oyo State told The Anchor Online that the move even started right from the first collection period. He disclosed that politicians had agents stationed at local government headquarters and almost other collection centres. He said some were offered some money to allow their cards to be checked. The party leader averred that the data base of the Independent National Electoral Commission might have been hacked into, as he alleged that after such cards were collected the serial numbers would be copied before they became reunited with the owners, thereby fuelling speculations that the cards might have been disabled from the central system.
Meanwhile, at the demonstration of the card reader at the Senate, INEC Chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega pointed out that nobody can use another person's PVC. It may therefore not be wrong to conclude that the aim of those buying might actually not be to use them but to disenfranchise people in the strongholds of their opponents.
Comments
Post a Comment