A former Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo State, Mr Onwuasoanya FCC Jones, has voiced his apprehensions regarding Governor Hope Uzodimma’s purported plans to compromise the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machine for the upcoming November 11 Governorship Election in the state. Jones, who is now a public affairs analyst, expressed his concerns in response to the “Imo Social Security Number” program initiated by Governor Uzodimma’s administration, which aims to collect citizens’ data for potential election manipulation.
Obtained by SaharaReporters, a Special Announcement leaflet from the Imo State Government outlined the requirement for enrollment in the program, stating that a valid voter’s card would be necessary. The program, set to commence on May 16, 2023, at all polling units in the state, aims to issue a unique Imo State Social Benefit Number (IMSSBN) to each enrolled individual.
The announcement emphasized that the “3R/Shared Prosperity Government in Imo State envisioned and concluded plans to roll out a Social Welfare Benefit Programme that is targeted at enrolling every Adult Imo State indigene on our enterprise database platform.” It further listed several benefits of the program, including IMSSBN Health Insurance, Skill Acquisition, Citizen’s Help Desk/Citizen’s Infopedia, Economic Empowerment, and Employment Opportunity Advisory Business Support Programmes/Grants.
Reacting to this development, Jones labeled the Imo Social Security Number program as a fraudulent attempt to obtain citizens’ information for potential election manipulation. He accused the Uzodimma regime and the APC of a desperate endeavor to gather data from impoverished and marginalized youths in Imo State.
According to Jones, “The plan which he has shielded under a deceitful Social Welfare Scheme is strictly aimed at collating sensitive data of would-be applicants, including; BVN, NIN, VIN numbers, and important voting details of the applicants, which will enable the APC and their agents to manipulate the bimodal accreditation system.”
He further argued, “For the avoidance of doubts, citizens do not need any special number to benefit from social welfare programs from any responsible government. The National Identity Number which every Nigerian is eligible to be enrolled into has all the features to qualify as a social security number for all Nigerian citizens as it contains all relevant information covering every citizen, including your financial standing and employment history.”
Jones highlighted the potential risks associated with the program, stating, “Beyond merely stealing people’s voter details and using them to manipulate the upcoming election, there is fear that these details may fall into the hands of internet fraudsters and hackers who may use them to perpetrate all kinds of illegal activities, including stealing victims’ life savings and other criminal activities.”
He called on Imo residents to exercise caution and be aware of the inherent dangers posed by the program, cautioning that participating in it could potentially jeopardize both their voting rights and their legal identities.