Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has called on security agencies to go after those engaging in the buying of votes in the state.
Ortom made the call in a chat with newsmen at the Government House in Makurdi, on Wednesday.
He accused members of some political parties especially the All Progressives Congress (APC) of collecting permanent voter cards (PVCs) from unsuspecting members of the public and buying same under the pretext that they would be enrolled in the Federal Government’s school feeding programme.
The Governor said he has already alerted security agencies about the development even as he urged the Benue electorate to guard and protect their PVCs jealously and never allow anyone collect it from them in whatever guise.
“We have made a policy statement about that, urging people not to be deceived by that antics.
“Once you apply for loan or to be enrolled into the school feeding programme and you are qualified, you will be selected.
“So, it is not by any criteria and PVCs has nothing to do with criteria for selection of a food vendor or school feeding programme.
“You know that since my exit from the APC, the party is no longer on ground and of course they have no stronghold anywhere in Benue State again.
“So, they have continued to raise false alarm and lies about me.
“Go to the commissioner of police, he would tell you the person who was arrested buying PVCs.
“It was an APC member. So, none of our PDP members were indulged in going about distributing money and collecting PVCs from people,” he said.
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