The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has raised concerns over reports of an alleged organized operation to purchase and collect Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) from citizens in parts of Northern Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC claimed it had received multiple reports indicating that individuals allegedly acting on behalf of the ruling party were offering money to vulnerable citizens in exchange for their voter cards.
According to the opposition party, efforts are underway to document the allegations and gather credible evidence on those allegedly involved in the operation.
The ADC warned that the reported scheme goes beyond conventional vote-buying, arguing that the collection of PVCs could be aimed at preventing eligible voters from participating in the electoral process.
“This is not ordinary vote-buying. A PVC collected from its rightful owner cannot ordinarily be used by another person because accreditation requires biometric verification. The real objective may therefore be to prevent targeted citizens from voting altogether. This is organised voter suppression and represents a direct assault on the constitutional rights of Nigerians,” the party stated.
The ADC called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to immediately investigate the allegations, identify those financing or coordinating the purported operation, and prosecute anyone found culpable.
The party also urged citizens approached by individuals seeking to buy their voter cards to reject such offers, document any evidence available, and report the incidents to INEC, security agencies, or the nearest ADC office.
Abdullahi argued that worsening economic hardship should not be exploited for political advantage, stressing that citizens must resist attempts to trade their electoral rights for short-term financial gains.
“The same ruling party under whose watch millions of Nigerians have been pushed deeper into poverty must not be allowed to weaponise that poverty against them. Those who have failed to earn the people’s confidence must not be permitted to purchase their silence,” he said.
He further described the PVC as more than a voting document, noting that it represents the power of citizens to determine their future through the ballot box.
“A PVC is not merely a piece of plastic. It is the citizen’s voice, power and protection against bad government. The money offered for it may last for one day, but the consequences of surrendering it will last for four years,” Abdullahi added.
The ADC also called on civil society organizations, election observers, traditional rulers, religious leaders, media organizations, and community groups to intensify voter education campaigns and expose any attempts to disenfranchise eligible voters before the 2027 elections.
The party warned that any coordinated effort to remove PVCs from citizens should not be treated as routine political misconduct, insisting that such actions could amount to an attempt to influence electoral outcomes by limiting voter participation.
“To every Nigerian, particularly voters across the North, our message is simple: keep your PVC, protect your power and use it. Do not allow anyone to turn your present hardship into their electoral advantage. Your vote belongs to you, and no one has the right to take it away,” the statement said.
