The Governorship Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Ebonyi State in the 2023 polls Dr Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, has tasked the citizens of the state, on the need to register and obtain their Permanent Voter cards (PVCs).
Dr Odii gave the admonition in abakaliki the state capital at the weekend during the official opening of his campaign office located at Amegu Street Unity Square in the capital city.
He restated that that the event was a welcome one organized by “Anyichuks Support Group/stakeholders .
” Let everybody register and collect his/her PVC, go into our localities, any person upto the age of 18 years must be registered and PVCs collected”.
According to him,” this programme is specifically for sensitization of Ebonyi people, informing them on the need to get registered ”
‘We intend to use this occasion to carry out sensitization on voter registration in Ebonyi state’
The PDP Governorship Candidate reiterated that he would emerge victorious in the election and subsequently transform the State.
‘my goal is to create wealth, when I win this election, every son of Ebonyi state will have access to wealth creation”
“It is simple for us to win the election, every body must convince people to vote for PDP”
Dr Odii called for unity among party faithfuls insisting that he would win the governorship election come 2023.
‘I plead for unity, let us come together, I am committed to the diversification of the economy of the state, the mission to transform Ebonyi involves all of us”
Earlier in a remark, the former Deputy National Secretary of PDP Chief Onwe Solomon Onwe, enjoined the people to utilize the opportunity given by INEC for registration.
In attendance during the event were 26 Support Groups of the Governorship Candidate, three Senators, Six House of Representative members and members of “Anyichuks Campaign Council among others.
The Official Opening ceremony of the Campaign Office had in attendance Ebonyi State PDP Deputy Governorship Candidate Senator Polinus Igwenwagu, the State Chairman of PDP Barrister Silas Onu, the Director of Media/Publicity Chief Abia Onyike, and a member of the Campaign Council Dr Emmanuel Kanoundu .
Also, The Anambra State chairman of Civil Liberties Organization, CLO, comrade Vincent Ezekwueme, has urged the people in the state to use this period of extension of the continuous voters registration exercise to ensure they acquire their PVC to enable them participate in the next year general election.
According to him, “we observe with dismayed and disbelief that much celebrated ballot box revolution has not reflected in the number of registered voters in the Southeast”.
In a press statement for reappraisal of current voters registration exercise in the state with the theme, “A voter is a king” signed by comrades Vincent Ezekwueme, Chidi Mbah, and Hyginus Udensi chairman, secretary and treasurer respectful, and made available to newsmen in Onitsha, CLO appealed to Anambrarians, citizens and residents to obtain their PVC.
They described the PVC as the only power to elect good leaders and reject bad leaders.
They hinted that, “our on the spot assessment of some registration centres, shows complaints of prospective registrants and reliable information by patriotic citizens that indicated that the INEC officials are not living up to expectations.”
“Prospective registrants encounter a lot of problems ranging from inadequate staff and registration materials, lateness and nonchalant attitude of registration officials, malfunction of registration equipment, waste of time and unprecedented huge crowd of unattended registrants, alleged demand for gratification both for registration and collection of voters card.”
According to them, “the State Resident Electoral Commissioner should as a matter of public importance set up monitoring Committee that will enable him get first hand information of problems encounter by the prospective registrants and INEC.
He should also disguise himself and pay impromptu visits to various registration centers to adequately be knowledgeable about real situation in order to proffer prompt and permanent solutions.
He should also organize town hall meeting with citizens, Civil Society Organisations, markets, religious and traditional leaders on the best applicable way to get every adult suffrage registered and more convenient and easy means for disbursement of voters card to owners”
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“It may interest you to note that nearly forty five percent of legible voters are yet to be registered. It leaves much to be desired. It is pertinent to note that apathy, indifference and under nourishment of our democracy is a threat to our democracy and good governance.
If a wrong candidate emerges in an election, it means that majority of good people fail to participate in the elections or they mortgage their conscience.
Significantly, the beginning of our political wisdom is to understand that politics drives socio-economic and religious life of every nation.
Worthy of note is that when we think about politics, we think about people because minority will always have their say, but the majority will always have their way, hence collective, cooperative and collaborative efforts should be made to ensure that the zone will be among highly registered voters in the country as a clear indication that, we are committed towards actualizing Nigeria President of Igbo extraction in 2023.”
“Mobilization, sensitisation and education of citizens in this regard should begin with you and your family. A vote is like a rifle, its usefulness depends on the user. Obtain your voters card, wisely use your inalienable right to enthrone good and charismatic leaders and governments”, they pleaded.
