2023: LP Reveals Politicians Behind Purchase Of PVCs From Voters

The Labour Party (LP) has revealed the politicians responsible for buying Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) from voters to harvest their Voter Identification Numbers (VINs).

Naija News earlier reported that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had alleged that some politicians are purchasing PVCs from voters in an attempt to rig the 2023 general elections.

Reacting to the allegation, Labour Party stated that politicians and political parties, who have over the years, weaponized poverty are behind the electoral offence.

In an interview with Vanguard on Monday, the Chief Spokesperson of the LP Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), Yunusa Tanko, asked INEC and security agencies to arrest the said politicians.

Tanko said the party was not involved in the alleged purchase of PVCs from voters, saying that the party has been taking its plea for votes directly to Nigerians.

He added that the LP flagbearer, Peter Obi, has been campaigning and appearing in debates and town hall meetings because he knows the power to make the next President is in the hands of the people.

He said: “We in the Labour Party condemn electoral crime in all its ramifications. I’m certain the politicians being described by INEC are not within our rank or file, that is why we have been taking our plea for votes directly to Nigerians.

“Our candidate has been campaigning and appearing in debates and town hall meetings because he knows the power to put him and his running mate and of course, our party in office is in the hands of the people.

“We enjoin Nigerians to beware of politicians, who stole from our common patrimony while in office at one time or another.

“These are the same people who have come to use these same stolen funds to try to buy their PVCs and their votes.

“Nigerian voters should also beware that Section 124 of the Electoral Act 2010 (As amended), makes it a criminal offence for anyone to buy or sell votes. Both offenses carry a punishment of 12 months in jail or a fine of N500,000 or both on conviction.”