The Abia State government has expressed concern over reports that certain political figures are allegedly using their agents to visit different wards and trick rural residents into surrendering the details on their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs).
These agents reportedly offer N10,000 in return for the sensitive voter data.
According to the alarm raised, this operation is being masked as an initiative to set up an e-wallet for empowerment, even though no such platform exists.
In a statement released Monday night, signed by Ferdinand Ekeoma, the Special Adviser to Governor Alex Otti, the government warned that the ultimate goal of those behind this act is to tamper with the integrity of the affected PVCs, making it impossible for the owners to vote in the 2027 general election.
While no names were disclosed, the statement highlighted that the state has executed several empowerment projects targeting young people and the elderly.
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It added that more of such interventions will follow, free from political bias or shady conditions that threaten citizens’ rights.
He warned that “Government views this deliberate act of criminality as an irresponsible act and warns that any person or persons, no matter how highly placed, caught indulging in this act of criminality, directly or through agents, shall face severe consequences, beyond their imagination”.
The government urged residents, especially those in rural areas, to “henceforth distance themselves from any individual or group who may approach them for the purpose of obtaining information contained on their PVCs or any other personal information that may disenfranchise or endanger them in any way.”