From John Adams, Minna
Worried by the low turn out of people of voting age in the north for the ongoing Permanent Voters Card (PVC) registration and collection, a Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has stage a road walk to sensitize the people on the need for them to register and collect their permanent Voters Cards ahead of the 2023 general elections.
The groups described as worrisome, the low level of turn out of people for PVC, especially in the northern states, stressing that the apathy of the people towards the exercise is a danger for the region that before now, constituted the highest voting population in the country.
The Northern Coalition Groups in their hundreds trooped to the major roads in Minna, the state capital to sensitize the People on the need for them to go and obtain their PVC as the only their voice can be heard as Nigerians agitate for political dispensation.
The placard carrying groups with different inscriptions; “my vote, my future”, “stop the complaints, get your PVC”, “get PVC to rescue and rebuild Nigeria”, among others brought vehicular traffic to a stand still for several hours and terminated their walk at the Minna city center.
Addressing the people, the Director, Strategic Communications of the coalition, Samaila Musa told Nigerians, especially the youths to stop the noise and the campaign on social media as that will not win election but instead get their PVC to elect Leaders of their choice during the 2023 general elections.
According to him, “that is the only way their voice can be heard. There must be a positive change in this country, and this can only be possible when we all participate in the process”.
He assured the youths that their votes must count in the 2023 election because “this 2023 elections must be different from other previous elections in the country.
“We be shun vote buying and vote with our conscience regardless of ethnic and religion background. We must get the country back from who have hijack our future”, he said.
He emphasized that the youth owned the country considering its population but emphasized that without PVC, this population can not change the narratives politically.
Also speaking, the Group Director on Political Affairs, Comrade Mohammed Mohammed gave Niger state as an example of states in the north that witnessed low turn out, ranking the third lowest in the online registration with over 20,000 unclaimed PVCs, saying “this is worrisome”.
Mohammed noted that the sensitization became necessary because to change anything within the political system the citizens must be armed with their PVC to effect that change by voting for a credible leaders of their choice.
The Coalition Board of Trustee, Chairman, Dr Nastura Ashir Sharif in his remarks, advised Nigerians especially Nigerlites to vote for credible leaders that has the nation at heart devoid of tribal, regional or religious sentiment.
Sharif however appealed to the electorates not to sell their votes noting that the vote buyers do not mean well for the country, adding that the people should get their PVC within the few days available for them and vote for leaders that will secure and provides every social amenities to them.