written a letter to the Chinese online shopping platform, alibaba.com,
about the sale of Nigeria's Permanent Voters Card on its website.
We recalls that Nigerians on social media had over the weekend raised
alarm after Permanent voters' cards, PVCs, branded with the Nigerian
colour and logo, was listed for sale on Chinese e-commerce giant,
Alibaba.
Reacting, Atiku in an open letter titled "A Matter of National
Security and Electoral Integrity Involving alibaba.com," signed by
Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Director General Atiku Presidential Campaign
Organisation, called on the organisation to take down the electoral
material from its platform.
He said the action was a breach of Nigeria's electoral and national integrity.
The letter reads, "Greetings and many congratulations for your
entrepreneurial successes. I have great admiration for what you have
achieved, especially coming from a humble background.
"I write this open letter because my attention has been drawn to an
egregious breach of Nigeria's electoral integrity and thus our
national security, by the sale of Nigerian Permanent Voter Cards, on
alibaba.com
"We are very concerned about this security breach because it threatens
Nigeria's desire to build strong institutions, like the Independent
National Electoral Commission.
"A situation like this could lead to massive vote buying and thus
thwart our efforts and instead create strong men where we want to
enable strength in institutions.
"Permanent Voter Cards were used in the 2015 Nigerian elections and
the alibaba platform was also in existence then, yet we did not have
this breach.
"That precedence leads me to believe that if alibaba.com refuses to
lend its platform to those unscrupulous elements who want to thwart
Nigeria's democracy, we would greatly increase the chances of a free
and fair Nigerian election in 2019.
"Therefore, I appeal to you to use your good offices to permanently
remove these items from alibaba.com.
"Furthermore, I do kindly ask you to consider sharing information with
Nigeria's security apparatus that may help expose any impropriety.
"The world is currently witnessing the unfolding of allegations,
counter allegations and investigations into election meddling in the
2016 American Presidential elections.
"These occurrences have ensnared several technologies, IT and social
media platforms including Facebook, Cambridge Analytica and Twitter
just to mention a few.
"Their involvement has had far-reaching political and economic impact
which has affected their market capitalisation and consumer
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.
"Thank you and please be assured of my continued admiration and my
offer of a right hand of friendship."
Meanwhile, the INEC had in a statement by Director, Voter Education
and Publicity, Oluwole Osaze Uzzi, on Sunday said 'the clone and sale
of the cards were anticipated and measures have been taken to preserve
and further secure electoral materials."
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