ADC, PDP storm brews over PVC revalidation

 

The African Democratic Congress, the Peoples Democratic Party, the Obidient movement, and  civil society groups on Sunday warned that the implementation of the voter revalidation exercise by the Independent National Electoral Commission could disenfranchise the electorate and damage public trust.

The ADC spokesman, Bolaji Abdullahi, in an interview with The PUNCH,  pointed out that rural dwellers may be disenfranchised, citing challenges of access and awareness in remote communities.

The PDP Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong and Obidient movement National Coordinator, Yunusa Tanko, questioned the feasibility of the exercise, arguing that it may not achieve its intended purpose given current logistical constraints.

Civil society organisations equally warned the exercise could erode public confidence in the electoral commission and weaken trust in the electoral process, underlining widespread concern about both timing and execution.

Meanwhile, a former INEC official, Oluwole Uzzi, said the commission has the legal authority to conduct voter revalidation exercises, but cautioned that the timing of the exercise raises concerns ahead of elections.