The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has expressed concern about some politicians who are accused of taking advantage of the North’s vulnerable citizens, particularly women, to purchase their permanent voter cards (PVCs).
Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, the NEF’s director of publicity and advocacy, made a live appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, where he provided more context for the Forum’s most recent research on the alleged prevalence of vote suppression in the area.
“It appears that the targeting is real. They target the most vulnerable, which is women. In the North, more women vote than men. More women have an interest in election activities, and on voting days, a lot more women come out to vote. But the economy makes them more vulnerable.
“So, it’s a targeted, conscious and deliberate effort to reduce each other’s support. People look at areas where they are strong and where the opposition is strong. And what they do is go into places where particularly the opposition is strong and they buy off PVCs.
“I have to say, it’s not just taking place in the North but a huge part of it is captialising on the poverty, particularly of women, and people are being separated from their voter cards,” he said
However, Baba-Ahmed emphasized that no one in particular was indicted by the Forum’s investigation.
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