THE NASARAWA PDP ACCUSES APC OF BURNING PVCS FROM SUPPORTERS.

The All Progressives Congress is allegedly scheming to burn and destroy the Permanent Voter Cards of the Peoples Democratic Party’s supporters in the state of Nasarawa’s Awe Local Government Area, according to the Peoples Democratic Party of Nasarawa State.

Awe LGA’s electoral officer, Danlami Umar Dandina, allegedly conspired with some APC leaders to burn PVCs of the party’s supporters in the LGA in order to disenfranchise them in the upcoming elections, according to Ibrahim Hamza, the party’s public relations officer, who was speaking at a press conference at the PDP secretariat in Lafia on Friday.

The election officer of INEC in Awe LGA collaborated with some members of the APC to destroy and burn a significant number of Permanent Voter Cards belonging to members and supporters of our party, the PDP, he added, drawing attention to the regrettable and illegal act. The culprits, who are APC members, were apprehended and taken to the state Criminal Investigation Department where they admitted to committing the crime after the affected eligible voters in the area reported the incident to the police.

“We demand the Electoral Officer be detained right away and fired. In order to discourage others, we also want to see his accomplices detained and charged.

“We are pleading with INEC to guarantee that any PVCs unlawfully provided to APC members in the area are immediately withdrawn and returned to their rightful owners, and in the case of the destroyed PVCs, INEC should take all reasonable steps to ensure that they are replaced prior to the 2023 elections.”

The PDP spokesperson claimed the APC started working with the INEC officials to disenfranchise locals because it was worried about losing the upcoming elections. She urged party members across the state to maintain calm while the issue was being handled.

“The APC failed the residents of Nasarawa State and Nigerians as a whole, so they are doing everything in their power to prevent our supporters from casting ballots in the elections of 2023. However, we will not submit to any intimidation from them. In the end, I have every confidence that Nigerians will vote for the PDP candidates and speak with one voice.

When reached by phone, Ibrahim Onawo, the state’s INEC director of voters education and publicity, denied to comment on the situation.