The Peoples Democratic Party in Kwara State has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to investigate an allegation that foreign nationals are being brought into the state and issued voter cards ahead of the 2027 elections.
The state PDP chairman, Isa Bawa Adamu, made the allegation on Tuesday while speaking at a pre-election training workshop organised for more than 3,000 women members drawn from the three senatorial districts in Ilorin.
The event, themed “Our Vote, Our Power — Standing Together for Our Future,” focused on preparing women members for participation in the 2027 electoral process.
Bawa alleged that some politicians were facilitating the movement of foreign nationals into the state for the purpose of influencing the outcome of the forthcoming elections.
He further claimed that some of the alleged foreigners had obtained voter cards, citing Baruten Local Government Area in Kwara North as one of the areas where the activity was allegedly taking place.
The PDP chairman, however, did not present documentary evidence at the workshop to substantiate the allegation.
He called on INEC to investigate the claim and take appropriate action against any individual found to have violated the electoral law.
Bawa also raised concerns over the alleged removal of campaign billboards belonging to PDP candidates, urging the electoral commission to examine the activities of the government agency responsible for regulating billboards and campaign materials.
He further appealed to political parties and candidates to avoid campaigns centred on personal attacks, urging INEC to facilitate debates or public engagements where candidates could present their programmes to voters.
The PDP chairman also charged women members to become more active in the electoral process and prepare to protect their votes during the 2027 elections.
Speaking at the event, the PDP women leader in the state, Aminat Isola, described women as a major force in elections and urged them to understand the voting 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.
She added, “Yet, our numerical strength means nothing until we translate it into power at the polling units.”
Isola said participants would receive practical training on voter accreditation, casting and sorting of ballots, counting, announcement of results at 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,” she said.
She also urged the women to take the voter education campaign to their communities, particularly elderly voters, to reduce the incidence of rejected ballots.
“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.
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“Teach them on how to thumbprint correctly so their votes will not be invalid. One rejected ballot is one silenced voice.”
As of the time of the reports reviewed, there was no public response from INEC specifically addressing the PDP’s allegation concerning the alleged importation of foreign nationals and issuance of voter cards. INEC’s official voter-registration locator confirms the existence of an INEC office in Baruten LGA, but this does not establish the allegation made by the PDP.
