Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to arrest politicians who are allegedly buying permanent voter cards, PVCs, from poor Nigerians.
The group said this in a statement sent to DAILY POST by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare on Saturday.
Recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recently alleged that some politicians are buying PVCs from poor Nigerians across the country. Similarly, the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has also corroborated the vote-buying allegation.
Reacting to the allegation making the round on vote-buying, the group tasked Buhari not to allow the issue to slide without appropriate investigation and punishment for those found culpable.
The group said vote buying violates the 1999 constitution, the 2022 Electoral Act and international democratic standards.
It added that poor Nigerians would be deprived of democratic participation if the menace is allowed to thrive unchecked.
“Buying of PVCs from poor Nigerians is a threat to fair and representative elections, as it amounts to vote buying, undue influence and improper electoral influence”, SERAP said.
Credit: dailypost.ng
