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, which the party did not support with documentary evidence at the event, was raised on Tuesday by the Kwara State PDP Chairman, Isa Bawa Adamu, during a one-day pre-election training workshop for more than 3,000 PDP women drawn from the state’s three senatorial districts.
The workshop in Ilorin was themed, “Our Vote, Our Power — Standing Together for Our Future.”
Bawa alleged that some politicians were behind the movement of foreign nationals into Kwara with the intention of using them for electoral malpractice during the forthcoming elections.
He further alleged that some of the foreigners had been issued voter cards to enable them participate in the elections, identifying Baruten Local Government Area in Kwara North as one of the areas where the alleged activity was taking place.
The PDP chairman called on INEC to investigate the allegations and take appropriate action against anyone found culpable.
Bawa also urged the electoral commission to look into 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 called on INEC to discourage campaigns based on personal attacks and proposed dialogues or debates among candidates to enable them explain their programmes to Kwara residents.
The PDP chairman urged women in the party to take the 2027 elections seriously and prepare to protect their votes.
Also speaking, Kwara State PDP Women Leader, Hajia Aminat Isola, stressed the importance of women’s participation in elections and urged them to familiarise themselves with the electoral process.
“Women constitute the largest voting bloc in any elections. We are mothers, we are sisters and we are traders, farmers, teachers and nation builders,” she said.
“Yet, our numerical strength means nothing until we translate it into power at the polling units.”
Isola said women participating in the workshop would be trained on accreditation, voting, sorting and counting of ballots, declaration of results at polling units and collation at ward level.
“When we walk into the polling unit on election day, you must walk in confidently, knowledgeably and unshakeably,” she said.
She urged participants to extend the voter education campaign to other women in their communities, particularly elderly voters, including teaching them how to mark their ballots correctly to avoid invalid votes.
“Our assignment does not end with our vote. I charge every woman here to go back and educate at least five to 10 other women in your streets and communities, especially the aged women,” Isola said.
“Teach them on how to thumbprint correctly so their votes will not be invalid. One rejected ballot is one silenced voice.”
There was no indication in the reports reviewed of an INEC response to the PDP’s specific allegations concerning foreign nationals and voter cards.
Hammed Shittu
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