Tinubu apologises for misleading Nigerians about PVCs

The National leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has apologised to Nigerians for lying that their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) have expired.

Recalls that the 2023 presidential hopeful had on Tuesday, told some of his supporters in Abuja to register ahead of the 2023 presidential election because their PVCs had expired.

While hosting the supporters in the nation’s capital, the former Lagos State governor urged them to “take one family member, two family members, knock on all doors and make sure that the new registration… Because they may not announce to you on time. The PVCs you have expired. Yes!”

The comment, however, did not go down well as Nigerians stormed the social media to lambast the presidential aspirant for misleading the general public.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) also swiftly countered the claim, warning Nigerians against heeding his advice.

Mr Tinubu, in a statement by his media aide Tunde Rahman, on Wednesday, admitted that his claim on PVCs was false, apologising for misleading Nigerians.

“Immediately upon being apprised of this, Asiwaju apologised for the incorrect statement and felt sorry for any confusion it may have caused,” the statement stated, adding that he meant PVCs need “update” not “expired.”

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The statement further noted, “Asiwaju Tinubu also stressed that he appreciates the patriotic and necessary work of INEC and its personnel in assuring a free and fair electoral process for all Nigerians in all political parties… He urged them to continue to mobilise voters to update their PVCs and help thwart the prevailing voter-apathy.”

Mr Tinubu is not new to making false statements and blaming them on a slip of the tongue.

Last March, Mr Tinubu called on President Muhammadu Buhari to authorise immediate recruitment of up to 50 million young Nigerians into the Nigerian Army, saying such action would overwhelm the ragtag groups of insurgents and bandits terrorising the country across multiple flanks.

“We are under-policed, and we are competing with armed robbers and bandits to recruit from the youths who are unemployed —33 per cent unemployed?” Mr Tinubu said at his 69th birthday celebration, held in Kano on Monday. “Recruit 50 million youths into the army.” 

But Mr Tinubu walked back his statement recommending enlistment of 50 million Nigerian youths into the military, saying it was a slip of the tongue.

Mr Tinubu claimed he meant to say five million Nigerians should be recruited into the Nigerian Army to combat raging insecurity instead, according to P.M. News which cited the politician’s spokesman Tunde Rahman.

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