INEC cautions voters against selling PVCs in Sokoto

Muhammad Musa, the head of voter education and publicity of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Sokoto, has cautioned voters in the state against selling their permanent voter cards (PVCs) to unscrupulous persons.

Musa was reacting to recent allegations by Malami Galadanchi (APC-Sokoto North 1), a member of the state House of Assembly, that some unpatriotic individuals were buying the PVCs.

Galadanchi had told newsmen in Sokoto on Sunday that some unscrupulous politicians were allegedly buying the cards from some registered voters in the state at the rate of N2,000.

The lawmaker also alleged that those “heinous” people were reportedly photographing the unsuspecting prospective voters with promises of donating either a motorcycle or tricycle (KEKE NAPEP).

However, reacting to the development, Musa warned: “Let everybody know that it is illegal to sell off voter cards, while the offence is punishable under the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended)”.

The INEC official explained that such bought PVCs would not be useful on the actual election days.

“This is because card readers will be used during the polls while the permanent voter cards are containing only the biometric data of the original owner, the registered voter.

“If the allegations or insinuations are true, those unpatriotic persons are nursing some sinister motives against the 2015 general elections and they will not succeed,” he said. (NAN)