The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to investigate allegations that foreign nationals are being brought into the state and issued voter cards ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The allegation was made by the Kwara State PDP Chairman, Isa Bawa Adamu, during a one-day pre-election training workshop attended by more than 3,000 PDP women from the three senatorial districts of the state.
The workshop, held in Ilorin on Tuesday, was themed, “Our Vote, Our Power — Standing Together for Our Future.”
Bawa alleged that some politicians were responsible for bringing foreign nationals into Kwara with the intention of using them for electoral malpractice during the 2027 elections.
Want to stay updated about everything in NIGERIA?
Click the button below to join our WhatsApp group...
According to him, some of the foreigners had allegedly been issued voter cards to enable them to participate in the elections.
He identified Baruten Local Government Area in Kwara North as one of the areas where the alleged activity was taking place.
The PDP chairman urged INEC to investigate the allegations and take appropriate action against anyone found responsible.
However, the party did not present documentary evidence supporting the allegations at the event.
Bawa also asked the electoral commission to investigate the alleged removal of billboards belonging to PDP candidates by an unnamed government agency responsible for regulating the erection of billboards and placement of campaign materials.
He further urged INEC to discourage campaigns centred on personal attacks, while proposing dialogues or debates among candidates to allow them to explain their programmes to residents of Kwara State.
The PDP chairman also urged women in the party to take the 2027 elections seriously and prepare to protect their votes.
Also speaking at the workshop, the Kwara State PDP Women Leader, Hajia Aminat Isola, highlighted the importance of women’s participation in elections and encouraged participants to become familiar with the electoral process.
Isola said women make up the largest voting bloc in elections and noted their roles as mothers, sisters, traders, farmers, teachers and nation builders.
She said their numerical strength would only become meaningful when it was translated into participation and influence at the polling units.
According to Isola, women taking part in the workshop would receive training on accreditation, voting, sorting and counting of ballots, declaration of results at polling units and collation at ward level.
She urged the participants to approach election day with confidence and adequate knowledge of the voting process.
Isola also encouraged the women to take voter education to others in their communities, particularly elderly voters.
She specifically urged them to teach elderly women how to mark their ballots correctly in order to reduce the chances of their votes being declared invalid.
The PDP Women Leader further called on each participant to educate between five and 10 other women in their streets and communities.
There was no indication in the report of a response from INEC to the PDP’s specific allegations concerning the alleged movement of foreign nationals into Kwara or the issuance of voter cards to them.
Hammed Shittu
Want to stay updated about everything in NIGERIA?
Click the button below to join our WhatsApp group...
Leave a comment