The Abia State Government has raised concern over alleged attempts by certain politicians to purchase personal voter information from residents in rural communities. According to the government, these politicians have deployed agents to local wards to collect data from Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) under the false pretense of creating an empowerment e-wallet, offering unsuspecting individuals N10,000 in return.

In an official statement issued Monday night and signed by Ferdinand Ekeoma, Special Adviser to Governor Alex Otti, the government described the scheme as fraudulent and aimed at compromising the integrity of the PVCs. The statement alleged that the ultimate goal is to render the original owners ineligible to vote in the 2027 elections.

Although the statement did not name any specific politicians, it emphasized that the Abia State Government has already conducted various empowerment programs for youths and the elderly—initiatives that were executed transparently and without political motives or dubious conditions.

The government strongly condemned the act, labeling it as a calculated criminal offense. It warned that anyone found engaging in this practice—either directly or through proxies—regardless of their status, would face serious legal consequences.

The announcement concluded with a caution to residents, particularly those in rural areas, urging them to reject any attempt by individuals or groups seeking access to the information on their PVCs or other personal data that could put them at risk of disenfranchisement or harm.