Abia State government has raised the alarm, alleging that some politicians in some parts of the State have deployed their agents to various wards to fraudulently obtain information contained on the Permanent Voters Cards, PVCs, of unsuspecting rural dwellers, in exchange for the sum of N10,000 each.

According to alarm, the alleged fraudulent act was being run under a deceptive guise that it is to create a nonexistent e-wallet for empowerment.

In a special government announcement signed by Ferdinand Ekeoma, the Special Adviser to Governor Alex Otti Monday night, Abia State government said that the intention of the sponsors and perpetrators of the criminal act is to compromise the authenticity of such PVCs and render the owners unfit to vote during the 2027 election.

The statement, which did not mention the names of the politicians involved, noted that Abia State government had carried out various empowerment programmes for the youths and the elderly across the State and will continue to carry out more empowerment without politicization or attachment of questionable preconditions aimed at violating their rights.

He warned that “Government views this deliberate act of criminality as an irresponsible act and warns that any person or persons, no matter how highly placed, caught indulging in this act of criminality, directly or through agents, shall face severe consequences, beyond their imagination”.

The statement concluded by calling on Abia people, “especially the rural dwellers to henceforth distance themselves from any individual or group who may approach them for the purpose of obtaining information contained on their PVCs or any other personal information that may disenfranchise or endanger them in any way.”