The Kwara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has demanded that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) investigate allegations of foreign nationals being brought into the state for the 2027 general elections.
The party suspects that certain politicians are importing non-citizens to facilitate electoral malpractices during the upcoming polls. These claims were raised during a one-day pre-election training workshop in Ilorin organised by the party.
The PDP leadership argued that the influx of foreigners poses a direct threat to the integrity of the democratic process in Kwara State. They expressed concern that these individuals could be deployed to manipulate voting outcomes and undermine the legitimacy of the 2027 elections.
Demands for INEC intervention
The party’s call for an investigation comes as political preparations for the 2027 election cycle begin to intensify across Nigeria. According to party representatives at the workshop, the suspected movement of foreign nationals is a deliberate attempt by some political actors to subvert the will of the Nigerian electorate.
The PDP maintained that INEC has a fundamental duty to protect the sanctity of the vote by ensuring that only eligible citizens participate in the electoral process. They urged the commission to conduct a thorough probe into the reported influx to prevent any potential disruptions or illegal interference at polling units.
While the party has not provided specific names of the politicians involved or evidence regarding the scale of the alleged importation, the leadership insisted that the commission must act proactively. They noted that waiting until the election period to address these issues could make it difficult to rectify fraudulent activities.
Nigeria’s electoral history has frequently seen allegations of voter manipulation and the use of ineligible persons to influence results. The Kwara PDP’s current stance suggests an effort to address these vulnerabilities well ahead of the next major election cycle. The party is calling for heightened vigilance from both security agencies and electoral officials to safeguard the state’s political landscape.
As of now, INEC has not issued a formal response to the specific allegations made by the Kwara PDP. The commission is expected to address whether it will launch an investigation into the reported movement of non-citizens within the state.
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