The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has raised concerns over the growing practice of politicians allegedly purchasing Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) from members of the public ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Rivers State, Prof. Gabriel Yomere, described the trend as a major threat to free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria, noting that the tactic has replaced the traditional vote-buying at polling units.
Speaking in Port Harcourt when a delegation of the Defence of Human Rights and Democracy (DHRD), led by its National Chairman, Comrade Clifford Christopher Solomon, paid him a courtesy visit, Prof. Yomere said politicians now target perceived opposition strongholds and move from house to house to buy PVCs from voters.
“They no longer go to polling units to buy votes,” he said. “What they do now is identify areas where they are weak and approach voters in their homes, offering to buy their PVCs with a promise to return them after the election. By doing so, they deprive citizens of the opportunity to vote.”
He, however, lamented that INEC lacks both the legal authority and manpower to monitor and prosecute such activities effectively.
“I doubt whether INEC has the legal backing to go into homes to question why someone sold a PVC. Even if we do, we don’t have the personnel to enforce it. It is largely beyond us,” he added.
Prof. Yomere also identified the heavy reliance on adhoc staff during elections as another challenge facing the commission.
“If elections were conducted solely by INEC staff, there would be minimal misconduct because they would not want to jeopardise careers built over 15 or 20 years,” he explained. He said many adhoc staff see election as an opportunity. Unfortunately, he said, they are a necessary evil because the scale of election operations is enormous.
On election violence, the REC said INEC, as a neutral body, has no interest in violence but acknowledged that some politicians sponsor unrest for political gain.
“There are people who benefit from violence, and to be frank, politicians are at the centre of it,” he stated. “While we work closely with security agencies through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Electoral Security, those who plan to cause trouble are also strategizing.”
“What baffles me is that politicians send young people to fight, yet their own children are never at the forefront. Our youths must realise they are being used. If they are injured, they are given peanuts and abandoned,” he said, calling on civil society groups to intensify sensitisation campaigns against electoral violence.
On electoral reforms, the REC maintained that Nigeria’s democracy is still evolving. “Rome was not built in a day. America has over 200 years of democratic experience and is still growing. We too are improving daily,” he said.
He highlighted the introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) as a major milestone that has significantly reduced over-voting and enhanced transparency.
On the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, the REC said the commission has intensified efforts to bring registration closer to the people, entering Phase Two of the exercise with machines deployed across communities until April 17.
He appealed to traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society organisations (CSOs) and the media to support voter mobilisation efforts, particularly in rural areas.
Earlier, DHRD Chairman, Comrade Clifford Solomon, expressed concern over the credibility of elections and urged INEC and other relevant institutions to strengthen efforts toward delivering transparent polls.
He reaffirmed DHRD’s readiness to partner with INEC in voter education, mobilisation and advocacy campaigns, especially in grassroots and riverine communities with limited access to information.
“It will be demoralising for people to come out and vote if their votes do not count,” Solomon said. “That leads to voter apathy and fuels violence. We want a system where election results truly reflect the will of the people.”
He emphasised the importance of electronic and real-time transmission of results, insisting that credible elections would deepen Nigeria’s democracy and discourage vote buying and manipulation.
Solomon also disclosed plans for a summit involving INEC, CSOs, political parties, security agencies and the National Human Rights Commission to address electoral irregularities, and called on the commission to partner with DHRD in the initiative.
“We stand for the promotion of human rights and the deepening of democracy. If stakeholders abide by the Electoral Act and the Constitution, many of these problems will be resolved,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara has congratulated the candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ukalikpe Napoleon and Loolo Bulabari Henrietta, for their victory in last Saturday’s bye -election which held in two constituencies in the state.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had conducted the by-elections last Saturday to fill two vacancies in the Rivers State House of Assembly.
While Ukalikpe won the Ahoada East State Constituency, Loolo won Khana State Constituency II seat.
The governor said, “It is the beauty of democracy. When the people believe in your capacity, they will give you their votes. I look forward to working with them and their colleagues in the State House of Assembly.”
