Immigration service warns foreigners against voting

The Comptroller of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) in Edo, Mr

Adi issued the warning when he addressed leaders of the Nigerien, Malian and Chadian communities in Edo in Benin on Monday, saying that reports had revealed that some foreigners planned to vote in the election.

He said “intelligence reports available have it that many foreigners in the state are in possession of the Nigerian Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) with a view to using them for the election.

“No foreigner is allowed to participate in the election because it is for only Nigerians.

“The Nigerian Immigration Service will not tolerate any attempt by any group of foreigners to truncate this election.

“Any foreigner caught with a PVC will not only be prosecuted but will also be repatriated.

“We want this election to go down in history as the most transparent, credible and freely conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

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“We have resolved to assist INEC to succeed; there is a synergy among security agencies to ensure that the Edo governorship election is free, fair, credible and conclusive.

“Every polling unit in the 18 local government areas will have an immigration officer and they have been deployed to man polling units and are well trained to fish out any foreigner. ”

Responding, the President of the Niger Citizens resident in Edo, Alhaji Halidu Ibrahim, prayed for the success of the election.

He promised that he would talk to his people to stay away from voting centres and polling units during the election.