2027: ADC Raises Alarm Over Alleged PVC Collection in Northern Nigeria

The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has raised concerns over an alleged organised operation to purchase and collect Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, from citizens in parts of Northern Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general election.

The party alleged that individuals purportedly acting in the interest of the ruling party were offering money to vulnerable citizens in exchange for their PVCs.

In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, on Thursday, the ADC said it had received multiple reports of the alleged operation and was taking steps to document the claims and gather credible evidence.

The party said the alleged collection of PVCs went beyond conventional vote-buying because a voter’s card collected from its rightful owner cannot ordinarily be used by another person where biometric verification is required.

According to the ADC, the alleged objective could therefore be to prevent targeted citizens from participating in the election rather than to enable another person to vote with the collected card.

“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 party said.

The ADC alleged that, if established, the practice could amount to an organised attempt to suppress voter participation and called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and security agencies to investigate the reports.

It also urged the authorities to identify those allegedly financing or coordinating the operation and prosecute anyone found to have purchased, collected or unlawfully retained voters’ cards.

The opposition party appealed to citizens approached by alleged PVC buyers to reject such offers and preserve any available evidence that could assist an investigation.

It further called on civil society organisations, election observers, traditional rulers, religious leaders, community associations and the media to intensify voter sensitisation and help expose any attempt to disenfranchise eligible Nigerians.

The ADC also urged voters, particularly those in the North, to safeguard their PVCs and exercise their constitutional right to participate in the 2027 election.

The allegation comes as political parties intensify mobilisation and preparations for the 2027 polls. The claims by the ADC had not been independently established at the time of the report, while the party said it would continue documenting the alleged incidents and gathering evidence for relevant authorities.