Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State on Tuesday called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to investigate the alleged importation of foreign nationals by some politicians in the state with the intention to use them for electoral malpractices in the 2027 general elections.
Speaking during a one-day pre-election training workshop in Ilorin, organised for over 3,000 PDP women across the three senatorial districts of the state, titled “Our vote, our power- Standing Together for Our Future”, the state PDP chairman, Mallam Isa Bawa, said that the foreigners had allegedly been issued voters’ cards to enable them to vote in the next general elections.
The PDP chairman, who identified Baruten local government area in the Kwara North district of the state as one of the areas involved, charged INEC to be good umpire by bringing the perpetrators of the act to book.
He also called on the INEC to look into alleged activities of agency of government charged with regulating pasting of posters and erection of billboards, which he said had pulled down billboards of PDP candidates in the 2027 general elections.
PDP chairman wanted the INEC to check the campaign of calumny among politicians as the campaign had started, advising the electoral body to organise dialogue/debate among candidates to enable them talk with Kwara people on their plans for the state and its people.
He assured PDP women that the opposition party would make a difference when it returns to power, tracing recent electoral victory in Osun State to women’s involvement and participation, and charged them to take 2027 general elections more seriously and prepare to defend their votes.
Also speaking, the Kwara State PDP Women Leader, Hajia Aminat Isola, said that women constitute voting power in any free, fair, peaceful and credible elections in every democracy.
Hajia Isola, therefore, tasked women in the state to master the voting process from accreditation to voting, counting and declaration of results at the polling units and collation at the ward level during the 2027 general elections in the country.
“Women constitute the largest voting bloc in any elections. We are mothers, we are sisters and we are traders, farmers, teachers and nation builders
“Yet, our numerical strengthen means nothing until we translate it into power at the polling units.
“When we talk about leveraging women’s voting power, the work starts long election day but victory is determined at the polling unit and we must therefore be strategic, educated and organised”.
Hajia Isola, who said that, “Ignorance is greatest challenge in the struggle to our power, added that, “Today, we will master the entire voting process from accreditation, to voting, to sorting, counting and declaration of results at the polling units and collation at the ward level.
“When we walk into the polling unit on election day, you must walk in confidently, knowledgeably and unshakeably.
“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. Teach them on how to thumbprint correctly so their votes will not be invalid. One rejected ballot is one silenced voice”.