The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Gombe State has accused the administration of Governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya of allegedly using an empowerment programme to obtain voters’ cards, bank account details and thumbprints from residents, describing the development as a potential ploy for voter profiling and vote buying.
The opposition party alleged that government agents were demanding the sensitive information from beneficiaries as a condition for accessing palliatives and other forms of empowerment, warning residents against surrendering personal data in exchange for material assistance.
In a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by its State Publicity Secretary, Abdulkadir Ahmad Dukku, the PDP said public-funded interventions should be accessible to citizens irrespective of their political affiliations and should not be tied to any requirement that compromises their privacy or electoral independence.
The party specifically challenged the alleged demand for voters’ cards and biometric information, saying: “The insistence by the administration of Governor Inuwa Yahaya to demand voters card and biometric data as a prerequisite is therefore unnecessary, unlawful, and a clear attempt to profile citizens.”
The PDP further invoked Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees the right to privacy, arguing that information contained on voters’ cards could expose citizens to intimidation, fraud or political manipulation if improperly collected, handled or disclosed.
It consequently urged residents to resist pressure to surrender their electoral and personal information for any material benefit, stressing that government assistance should not be used to compromise citizens’ rights or influence their choices at the polls.
The party said voters’ cards remained critical instruments for determining the state’s political future, urging residents to safeguard them ahead of the forthcoming elections. “Your voter’s card is your weapon during the forthcoming elections in order to bring about purposeful leadership in Gombe State,” Dukku said, adding: “To be forewarned is to be forearmed.”
