The African Democratic Congress has raised the alarm over what it described as an alleged organised operation to purchase and collect Permanent Voter Cards from citizens in parts of northern Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The party alleged that individuals acting on behalf of the ruling party were offering money to vulnerable citizens in exchange for their PVCs.
In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said it had received multiple reports of the alleged operation.
The party said it was taking steps to document the reports and gather credible evidence that could help identify those allegedly behind the operation.
The ADC argued that the alleged collection of PVCs was different from conventional vote-buying because another person could not ordinarily use a collected PVC to vote, given the biometric authentication required during voter accreditation.
INEC has stated that its biometric accreditation system is designed to authenticate voters using fingerprints or facial recognition, while its election-day guidance requires voters to present their PVC and be accredited at their registered polling units.
“This is not ordinary vote-buying. A PVC collected from its rightful owner cannot ordinarily be used by another person because accreditation requires biometric verification,” the ADC said.
The party alleged that the objective could instead be to prevent targeted citizens from participating in the election.
“The real objective may therefore be to prevent targeted citizens from voting altogether. This is organised voter suppression, and it represents a direct assault on the constitutional rights of Nigerians,” it added.
The ADC called on the Independent National Electoral Commission and security agencies to immediately investigate the reports, identify those financing and coordinating the alleged operation and prosecute anyone found purchasing, collecting or unlawfully retaining voters’ cards.
The party also urged citizens approached by alleged PVC buyers to reject the offers, preserve available evidence and report such incidents to INEC, security agencies or the nearest ADC office.
The ADC further accused the ruling party of attempting to exploit economic hardship for electoral advantage.
“The same ruling party under whose watch millions of Nigerians have been pushed deeper into poverty must not be allowed to weaponise that poverty against them. Those who have failed to earn the people’s confidence must not be permitted to purchase their silence,” the statement said.
The party urged Nigerians to protect their voter cards, describing the PVC as an important instrument of electoral participation.
“A PVC is not merely a piece of plastic. It is the citizen’s voice, power and protection against bad government. The money offered for it may last for one day, but the consequences of surrendering it will last for four years,” it said.
The ADC also called on civil society organisations, election observers, the media, traditional rulers, religious leaders and community associations to intensify public sensitisation and expose any attempt to disenfranchise voters ahead of the 2027 elections.
The party warned that any coordinated attempt to remove voter cards from citizens should not be dismissed as routine political misconduct, arguing that such an effort could limit the participation of affected voters.
“To every Nigerian, particularly voters across the North, our message is simple: keep your PVC, protect your power and use it. Do not allow anyone to turn your present hardship into their electoral advantage. Your vote belongs to you, and no one has the right to take it away,” the ADC added.
