From James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta
Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun has raised an alarm over alleged ‘wholesale buying of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) by candidates and representatives of opposition parties in the state, saying that the dastardly move was aimed to manipulate and disenfranchise eligible voters during the forthcoming elections
He therefore called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to look into the matter.
The alarm was raised in a statement signed by the Chairman, Media and Publicity Committee of Amosun’s Campaign Organization, Femi Soeoolu in Abeokuta, alleging that a number of opposition parties and their candidates had been buying PVCs across the 236 wards of the state with a plan to manipulate election results, calling on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to take note and swing into action.
He said, “Senator Ibikunle Amosun Campaign Organisation, (SIACO) views with grave concern widespread and recurring reports of wholesale buying of Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) by candidates and representatives of opposing parties, in a dastardly effort to manipulate the forthcoming elections, and disenfranchise the good people of Ogun State.
“We must make note that while any such purchased PVC’s may not be transferable, the intention of those buying them off the original owners is to reduce the votes in the opposition strongholds and improve the chances of their own party at the polls.”
Reacting to the allegation raised by the governor, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) described such allegation as unfounded and uncalled for, explaining that such an allegation should not have come from the governor, his campaign organisation and All Progressives Congress (APC) saying it was not possible.
Timothy Ibitoye, Ogun State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), who spoke with our correspondent through Dickson Atiba, the Administrative Secretary, said: “At times politicians can be very funny. I mean government has everything at its disposal to arrest whoever caught selling and buying PVCs, they should be saying such; they should arrest them.
