PDP Accuses Gombe Governor of Coercing Voter Info

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Gombe State has accused the administration of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of requiring residents to provide sensitive personal information, such as voters’ cards, bank account numbers, and thumbprints, to access government empowerment materials. This allegation was made in a statement by the PDP Publicity Secretary, Abdulkadir Ahmad Dukku, on Wednesday.

The PDP expressed concern over reports that state government officials were collecting this information under the pretext of distributing empowerment materials. The party argued that such demands are inappropriate, especially as the empowerment scheme is funded by public resources, and should be accessible to all eligible residents regardless of political affiliation.

Dukku highlighted that the collection of voters’ cards and biometric data could be used for political profiling, particularly as Nigeria approaches another election cycle. He referenced Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees citizens' privacy, urging residents to be cautious about sharing personal information.