Patience Leonard, PBA Journalism Mentee
As the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) winds down the nationwide Continuous Voter Registration exercise, a large number of Nigerian youths are now trooping out to get their Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) ahead of the 2023 general elections.
Many youths in Enugu today, 7th June 2022, converged at Okpara Square to participate in the voters’ registration process as the deadline is 23 days away.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe registration started at 8 a.m., with many unregistered voters queuing to get registered. They complained about the shortage of INEC staff and capturing machines to help fasten the process.
Despite the challenges encountered by the few INEC staff present, the youths resolved to reconverge and continue the process tomorrow.
A similar exercise with the campaign tagged “Youth votes count” also took off on Monday, 6th June in Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos to mobilize citizens, especially youths to participate in the electoral process.
Meanwhile, individuals and organisations also have joined the movement tagged “Operation Get Your PVC”, to encourage their workers and friends to get registered for the 2023 voting exercise.
The CEO of SPD group of companies, Dr. U. D Williams announced that he has given his workers all over Nigeria a 7-day ultimatum to get their PVCs before resuming work. If not, they await the consequence of being sacked.
He wrote “ Today, a direct message was sent out to all the staff of the SPD GROUP different companies here in Nigeria. No resuming of work until PVC is gotten by all. After 7 days and any is not back to his or her duty post with their PVC, he or she is sacked immediately.
“2023 Election must be taken to heart or we all shall be in for another 8 years of quagmire. I advise all institutions to do the same, including churches and schools. This is the time to take back the country from the hands of these Old Demons.” He concluded.
Also, the Student Union Government (SUG) of Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) have pledged to collaborate with INEC to carry out their own version of “Operation Get Your PVC” within their campuses.
INEC had on Monday, 30 May 2022, suspended online pre-registration and would end other registration processes at its centres nationwide on 30 June 2022 to enable the commission clean up the database and issue registered voters their PVCs.
