Stop politicians buying PVC, SERAP tells Buhari
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project urged the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (Retired), to direct the Federation Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, and the appropriate anti-corruption agencies to identify and arrest politicians who allegedly purchased permanent voter registration cards from Nigerians, and bring them swiftly to justice.
SERAP also urged him to "ensure that politicians and their sponsors believed to be involved in these serious electoral and human rights crimes are named and humiliated, regardless of their political affiliation".
p>The Independent National Electoral Commission recently alleged that some politicians are buying PVCs from “poor” Nigerians across the country.
The Northern Elders Forum corroborated the claims, saying some politicians buy PVC with 2,000 naira in the north.
In the letter dated December 17, 2022 and signed by SERAP Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization said: “The purchase of PVC from poor Nigerians is a threat to fair and representative elections, as it amounts to vote buying, undue influence and improper electoral influence.”
SERAP said: "Allegations that politicians and their sponsors are buying PVC from poor Nigerians constitute serious breaches of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], the Elections Act and the international obligations of the country on anti-corruption and human rights."
According to SERAP, "The right to vote is essential to the enjoyment of other fundamental human rights, but this right will have little meaning if politicians and their sponsors continue to buy PVC and get away with it. shoot with their crime against the Nigerian people".
The letter, read in part, "We would appreciate if the recommended action is taken within 7 days of receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by there, SERAP will consider appropriate legal action to compel your government to comply with our request in the public interest."
“No politic body worthy of being called a democracy entrusts the selection of leaders to a process of auction or barter. p>
“The purchase of PVC from poor Nigerians and the resulting disenfranchisement of participation would completely undermine the legitimacy of representative government.”
"Investigating, identifying, naming and defaming those suspected of being involved in these criminal acts of vote buying and undue influence, and bringing them to justice would promote the people's right to vote, as well as the trust of the public in the electoral process."
"The Nigerian Constitution provides in section 14(1)(c) that "the participation of the people in their government shall be ensured in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution". Sections 121 and 127 of the Elections Act prohibit electoral corruption and undue influence before, during and after any election.”
"Similarly, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights and the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance guarantee the right to political participation , including the right to vote."< /p>
"These human rights treaties also require state parties, including Nigeria, to promote the establishment of the necessary conditions to foster citizen participation."
“PVC buying is a variant of vote buying and undue influence. Nigerian Constitution and Paragraph 15(a) of the Third Schedule of the Constitution and Elections Act 2022.”
"This would lead to disparate and discriminatory treatment of poor Nigerians, encourage poor governance and weaken the ability of citizens to hold their 'elected officials' accountable for their actions."
“When politicians and their sponsors decide to buy the support of the people rather than compete fairly for their votes, it is possible that these politicians show a disregard for democratic rules and a willingness to adopt illegal means becomes inevitable."< /p>
"Moving swiftly to tackle brazen impunity and allegations of politicians buying PVCs from poor Nigerians would also send a strong message to politicians that your government will not tolerate any violations of the electoral process ahead of the 2023 general elections."
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The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project urged the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (Retired), to direct the Federation Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, and the appropriate anti-corruption agencies to identify and arrest politicians who allegedly purchased permanent voter registration cards from Nigerians, and bring them swiftly to justice.
SERAP also urged him to "ensure that politicians and their sponsors believed to be involved in these serious electoral and human rights crimes are named and humiliated, regardless of their political affiliation".
p>The Independent National Electoral Commission recently alleged that some politicians are buying PVCs from “poor” Nigerians across the country.
The Northern Elders Forum corroborated the claims, saying some politicians buy PVC with 2,000 naira in the north.
In the letter dated December 17, 2022 and signed by SERAP Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization said: “The purchase of PVC from poor Nigerians is a threat to fair and representative elections, as it amounts to vote buying, undue influence and improper electoral influence.”
SERAP said: "Allegations that politicians and their sponsors are buying PVC from poor Nigerians constitute serious breaches of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], the Elections Act and the international obligations of the country on anti-corruption and human rights."
According to SERAP, "The right to vote is essential to the enjoyment of other fundamental human rights, but this right will have little meaning if politicians and their sponsors continue to buy PVC and get away with it. shoot with their crime against the Nigerian people".
The letter, read in part, "We would appreciate if the recommended action is taken within 7 days of receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by there, SERAP will consider appropriate legal action to compel your government to comply with our request in the public interest."
“No politic body worthy of being called a democracy entrusts the selection of leaders to a process of auction or barter. p>
“The purchase of PVC from poor Nigerians and the resulting disenfranchisement of participation would completely undermine the legitimacy of representative government.”
"Investigating, identifying, naming and defaming those suspected of being involved in these criminal acts of vote buying and undue influence, and bringing them to justice would promote the people's right to vote, as well as the trust of the public in the electoral process."
"The Nigerian Constitution provides in section 14(1)(c) that "the participation of the people in their government shall be ensured in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution". Sections 121 and 127 of the Elections Act prohibit electoral corruption and undue influence before, during and after any election.”
"Similarly, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights and the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance guarantee the right to political participation , including the right to vote."< /p>
"These human rights treaties also require state parties, including Nigeria, to promote the establishment of the necessary conditions to foster citizen participation."
“PVC buying is a variant of vote buying and undue influence. Nigerian Constitution and Paragraph 15(a) of the Third Schedule of the Constitution and Elections Act 2022.”
"This would lead to disparate and discriminatory treatment of poor Nigerians, encourage poor governance and weaken the ability of citizens to hold their 'elected officials' accountable for their actions."
“When politicians and their sponsors decide to buy the support of the people rather than compete fairly for their votes, it is possible that these politicians show a disregard for democratic rules and a willingness to adopt illegal means becomes inevitable."< /p>
"Moving swiftly to tackle brazen impunity and allegations of politicians buying PVCs from poor Nigerians would also send a strong message to politicians that your government will not tolerate any violations of the electoral process ahead of the 2023 general elections."
Please share this story:
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