The All Progressives Congress (APC) has raised the alarm that some people
suspected to be agents of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have resorted
to underhand tactics, including the purchase of PVCs and the intimidation
of some voters to seize their PVCs, in the wake of the recent postponement
of the general elections.
In a statement issued in Lagos on Tuesday by its National Publicity
Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party also said a company, Agro-Allied
Communities Service Nigeria Limited, has been formed ostensibly to provide
50,000 Naira loan each to ‘empower’ women. It said, however, that anyone
seeking to get the loan must provide her PVC as ‘collateral’, which is
basically the essence of the establishment of the company that is
supposedly a private concern but in reality a PDP front to mop up PVCs,
especially in opposition strongholds.
APC said it is now getting clearer by the day what the PDP-led Federal
government sought to gain by forcing the postponement of the elections for
six weeks – which is to perfect their rigging plans.
The party warned those behind the abhorrent acts to desist from such
tactics, which reflect the desperation by some people to hold on to power
at all cost, even when it is clear that Nigerians have widely rejected
them due to non performance, massive corruption and profligacy under their
watch.
It also appealed to its members and supporters in particular, and
Nigerians in general, not to sell their PVCs under any guise, saying that
is the only power they have to effect a meaningful change that can ensure
the deliverance of democratic dividends to them.
”Our members have alerted us to the fact that PDP agents have been
operating in all villages between Kobape and Orile-Imo along the
Sagamu-Abeokuta Expressway in Ogun State, giving 10,000 Naira to each poor
villager and collecting their PVCs. The PDP agents are also promising each
villager a monthly stipend of 10,000 Naira if and when their party assumes
office in the state.
”Indications are that this objectionable PVC mop-up is being replicated in
all opposition strongholds by the frenzied PDP, hence we at the APC have
decided to alert the nation to the reprehensible act,” APC said.
The party also said that some Immigration personnel, acting under the
guise of arresting illegal aliens with voter cards, are dispossessing a
lot of unsuspecting locals in the northern part of the country of their
PVCs. These unsuspecting people are arrested and their cards seized, all
in an attempt to disenfranchise them.
”This act of desperation is totally unacceptable and must stop forthwith.
Every voter should be allowed to exercise his or her franchise in
accordance with his/her conscience, without intimidation or inducement,”
it said.”We hope this is not part of the reasons that the PDP relentlessly
campaigned for a postponement of the elections, so it can engage in PVC
purchase and the disenfranchisement of innocent Nigerians through
harassment and intimidation.”