Ekiti Guber: APC Agents Moving Door-to-Door To Disenfranchise Voters – ADC Candidate

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate in Ekiti State, Dare Bejide, has raised concern over alleged collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and National Identification Numbers (NIN) by suspected political agents in parts of the state ahead of the election.

Naija News reports that this was revealed in a statement signed by the Director of Communications, Media and Publicity of his campaign organisation, Chief Gboyega Aribisogan.

The party accused agents believed to be linked to the All Progressives Congress (APC) of going from house to house and polling areas to gather voters’ PVCs and NIN details.

The party said some residents were being offered money, food items, and other support in exchange for their personal documents.

It warned that such actions could be used to weaken voters’ participation and influence election day activities.

The ADC also raised concern over reports that some individuals were being dressed in fake uniforms of the Amotekun Security Network. It claimed the individuals were being prepared to create fear, disturb voters, snatch ballot boxes, and attack polling agents during the election.

The party said the act was meant to mislead the public and damage trust in the security outfit.

Aribisogan said, “Across several local government areas in Ekiti, our party has documented a pattern where agents and foot soldiers of the APC are moving from house to house and polling units demanding the collection of PVCs and National Identification Numbers from voters.

“They promised cash, food items, or welfare support in exchange. This is a direct violation of Section 121 of the Electoral Act 2022, which prohibits voter inducement and the seizure of voter cards.

“The aim is clear, disenfranchise citizens, harvest PVCs, and use them for thumb-printing and multiple voting on election day. No citizen should surrender their PVC or NIN to any political party agent. Your PVC is your power. Once you give it up, you give up your voice.”

In response, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State dismissed the allegations.

The party’s Publicity Secretary, Segun Dipe, said the claims showed a lack of understanding of the electoral process and argued that it is not possible to use another person’s PVC to vote due to existing safeguards.

“The ADC have run out of what to say, and they are only displaying their ignorance. Nobody is mopping up PVCs.

“We will pardon their ignorance if they think that you can collect anybody’s PVC. Why can’t they collect another person’s PVC and see how useful or useless it is? So we are pardoning their ignorance,” he said.

The APC spokesperson, who also dismissed the allegation of kitting thugs in Amotekun outfits, said, “Amotekun is the project of the APC government. It is not the project of any other person. So why would we get fake Amotekun when we can recruit as many people into Amotekun?

“The duty of Amotekun is different. Amotekun is to ensure that people are not kidnapped; they go into the bushes. Are we kitting fake people to go into the bushes? So again, we pardon their ignorance for not knowing the roles and functions of Amotekun.”