A fresh political controversy has again erupted in Taraba State following allegations that civil servants and teachers were directed to submit photocopies of their Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, or risk having their salaries withheld. The claim has drawn sharp condemnation from the camp of Senator Emmanuel Bwacha and an equally strong denial from the Taraba State Universal Basic Education Board ,TSUBEB.
The controversy began after reports circulated on social media alleging that the state government, through the Chairperson of TSUBEB, Mrs. Christiana Binga, instructed teachers to provide photocopies of their PVCs as a condition for receiving their salaries.
Reacting to the reports, the camp of Senator Emmanuel Bwacha described the alleged directive as coercive, unconstitutional, and a desperate attempt to manipulate the electoral process.
In a statement signed by his Special Assistance on media, J .Y Nafinji, the alleged directive was characterized as a “panic measure” aimed at influencing the outcome of forthcoming elections.
“No responsible government should place public servants in a position where they must choose between protecting their personal voter information and earning their salaries”, Bwacha media aide said.
The Senator’s media aide called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, security agencies, and the presidency to investigate what he described as credible reports of voter intimidation and abuse of public office.
The statement further argued that the outcome of elections in Taraba state cannot be determined by the number of civil servants alone, maintaining that the collective will of the electorate remains the deciding factor in
