2019: Politicians are seeking PVCs to buy, says Oyo REC

Politicians are making efforts to buy Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Oyo State, Mr Mutiu Agboke, revealed yesterday.

He made the disclosure while addressing reporters on the preparations of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the next year election in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital yesterday. It was at the one-day seminar organized by the Oyo State chapter of the Online Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria (ONPAN).

Agboke, who declined to give details of the politicians involved and in what states of the country the efforts were being made, said he got to know through a security report. The REC, however, assured that no politician can get PVCs to buy from INEC.

His words: “ Politicians are looking for PVC to buy. That’s the security report we get. They are looking for what is not available. They have seen that this election will likely be neck-to-neck. We will allow a process that will not allow anyone to use violence to the disadvantage of another candidate. For those Looking for PVC to buy, there is none. No INEC staff will sell PVC to anybody. We are monitoring all of them and they all know.”

Agboke also recalled that some politicians have requested a hand-over of the uncollected cards to them, promising to distribute to owners who they claim are their supporters but that the commission will never release PVCs to anyone that is not the real owner. He said INEC rule does not allow collection by proxy.

The REC said voter education and sensitization being carried out by the umpire have raised the awareness of voters, stressing that the politicians have realized that INEC would provide a level-playing ground for every party and candidate. He said the situation has further made them realize that no political party or candidate can boast of easy victory which now makes them work and campaign hard for the election.