From Oluseye Ojo, Ibadan
Ahead of the 2023 general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned politicians and registered voters against identity theft, as well as sales and buying of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
National Commissioner of INEC in charge of Voter Education and Publicity, Festus Okoye, made the disclosure on Wednesday during a day training on conflict-sensitive reporting and the 2023 general elections, organised for journalists, by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in collaboration with the INEC , held at Press Centre, Iyaganku, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
Okoye, who was represented by the Deputy Director in charge of Gender Department, Ndidi Okafor, noted that politicians that have been reported to have indulged in the illegality of buying of PVCs, have only been wasting their time, energy and resources. He also warned that anyone who sold his or her PVCs would be prevented from voting by technology that have been programmed to recognise fingerprints and faces alone for accreditation.
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He explained that buying of PVCs from original owners that INEC issued them to, and distributing such to other people with the sim of using them to get more votes would amount to identity theft. He, however, warned that identity theft would prevent many registered voters from exercising their franchise during the conduct of the general elections next year.
His words: “Anyone buying PVC is embarking on effort in futility. It is an effort in futility. Futility exercise. It is not possible to snatch ballot boxes and ballot papers again. It is because of technology. The only reason why some people will not vote is identity theft. What we are dealing with is the fingerprint and the face.
“So, if your finger did not match, then your face must match. If your fingerprint did not match and your face did not match, then you cannot vote, that means you are not the owner of the PVC. That is identity theft.”
Okoye, who described the media as a critical stakeholder towards the conduct of free, fair, credible, and violent-free elections, appealed to journalists, to be part of “this education to sensitise the public. We need you to ensure accurate reportage.”
National President of NUJ, Chief Chris Iziguso, who was represented by a member of National Trustees of the council, Abimbola Oyetunde, charged journalists that in whatever they do “,it is very necessary to take the issue of peace as a cardinal point and take into consideration the need to be careful so that areas that are already fragile do not explode or implode.
“Peace is a basic requirement in a democracy. No democracy can flourish in the absence of peace. While, we know that it is inevitable to eliminate crises and conflicts from our society, however it is important if deliberate efforts are made toward conflict resolution and peace building.”
Iziguso also enjoined journalists in Nigeria to work towards the advancement of the right of freedom of expression, access to information, freedom of the press, media independence, conflict transformation and peace building, saying: “These are prerequisites for open governance and development, which ultimately serve the public interest.”