The Spokesman of the Northern Elders Forum, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has called for more support of the Independent National Electoral Commission to address the issue of the alleged vote suppression through the buying of Permanent Voter Cards from poor people in the North raised by him.
Mr Baba-Ahmed who was speaking on TVC News at 7pm on Monday night said it is difficult to say whether the Independent National Electoral Commission is on top of the situation or not since it does not have control over all the variables that will remedy the situation.
He said people have to be positive and support the Election Management body to ensure that the new trend of Voter suppression is addressed.
He disclosed that the Security agencies must do a whole lot more by tracing the people who are buying off peoples Permanent Voter Cards in Large quantities, arrest and prosecute them.
He raised the alarm that the Electoral process cannot be said to be fair when a large number of people have had their votes suppressed through the activities of those who have laboured hard to make this happen through the purchase of Permanent Voter Cards from poor people.
He added that the intention of the buyers of Permanent Voter Cards is to suppress votes in the strongholds of their opponents to ensure that the number of votes from the places where they may likely loose to ensure it is minimised.
He added that though the Northern Elders Forum have identified the trend in several parts of the North, in Lagos and some parts of the South West and isolated cases in the South East.
He however added that it is more rampant in the North and has affected Women the most because of their vulnerability and Economic inequality.
He disclosed that it is largely a secret thing which has gone on for long and has been done through several means.
He urged the Independent National; Electoral Commission to do a bit more of an advocacy campaign on the matter and let Nigerians understand how important the Situation with the Permanent Voter Cards is for the future of Nigeria.
