Atiku Abubakar. Source: Facebook.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has written a letter to the Chinese on-line procuring platform, alibaba.com, over the sale of Nigeria’s Permanent Voters Card on its web site.
Nigerians on social media had raised alarm after Permanent voters’ playing cards, PVCs, branded with the Nigerian color and emblem, was listed on the market on Chinese e-commerce large, Alibaba.
Reacting, Atiku in an open letter titled “A Matter of National Security and Electoral Integrity Involving alibaba.com,” signed by Gbenga Daniel, Director General Atiku Presidential Campaign Organization, stated the motion was a breach of Nigeria’s electoral and nationwide integrity.
The letter reads partly: “I write this open letter as a result of my consideration has been drawn to an egregious breach of Nigeria’s electoral integrity and thus our nationwide safety, by the sale of Nigerian Permanent Voter Cards, on alibaba.com
“We are very involved about this safety breach as a result of it threatens Nigeria’s need to construct sturdy establishments, just like the Independent National Electoral Commission.
“A scenario like this might result in huge vote shopping for and thus thwart our efforts and as a substitute create sturdy males the place we wish to allow energy in establishments.
“Permanent Voter Cards had been used within the 2015 Nigerian elections and the alibaba platform was additionally in existence then, but we didn't have this breach.
“That priority leads me to consider that if alibaba.com refuses to lend its platform to these unscrupulous parts who wish to thwart Nigeria’s democracy, we'd vastly improve the possibilities of a free and honest Nigerian election in 2019.
“Therefore, I attraction to you to make use of your good places of work to completely take away this stuff from alibaba.com.
“Furthermore, I do kindly ask you to think about sharing data with Nigeria’s safety equipment which will assist expose any impropriety.
“The world is presently witnessing the unfolding of allegations, counter allegations and investigations into election meddling within the 2016 American Presidential elections.
“These occurrences have ensnared a number of applied sciences, IT and social media platforms together with Facebook, Cambridge Analytica and Twitter simply to say a few.
“Their involvement has had far-reaching political and financial influence which has affected their market capitalisation and client confidence.
“It is also in the light of preventing such a scenario involving Nigeria and alibaba.com that I make these appeals. I trust that I can count on your cooperation.”