February 5, 2018

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ebonyi State has set up a six-man committee on voter education to mobilize eligible voters to participate in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR).

The six-man committee comprised Mr Okenwa Uka as Chairman and Gibson Nnachi as secretary.

The State Chairman of the party, Mr Eze Nwachukwu inaugurated the committee on Monday in Edda, Afikpo South Local Government Area of Ebonyi at a sensitisation to mobilize the people to participate in the exercise.

Nwachukwu charged the committee to liaise with community leaders, traditional rulers, women groups to mobilize eligible electorate at wards, villages and communities.

The chairman urged the committee to report difficulties that might be encountered to the state secretariat for prompt action.

“Report issues of breakdown of INEC registration machines or any other difficulties you may encounter promptly to our office.

“We count on you for the success of the exercise in Afikpo South and you must live up to the confidence reposed on you,” he said.

Nwachukwu also appealed to community leaders, traditional rulers, youth organizations and political stakeholders in the state to effectively mobilise eligible voters to participate in the CVR.

He advised the people against selling their PVCs or exchanging it for whatever reason, as the voter card remained the only power and right available to them to choose leaders of their choice.

“Do not sell or exchange your voter card. The card is the only legal right and power you have to participate in the election.

“Report any person or persons engaging in buying, selling or hoarding of the PVCs to the police or any law enforcement agency.

He assured that the APC was committed to conducting free, fair and credible general elections in 2019.

“The era of election malpractices, forceful snatching and stuffing of ballot boxes during elections in Ebonyi are over.

“We are here in Edda today to appeal to every eligible voter, especially those who are yet to register and obtain their voter card, to go and register and collect their Permanent Voter Card (PVC).

“Any eligible voter without his or her PVC is in error and not a good indigene of Edda. It is your civic right to vote and you cannot vote without being first registered and obtain the PVC which is your authority to vote.

“The system being put in place by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct, regulate and monitor the 2019 general elections will make rigging impossibile.

“As party in control of the Federal Government, we want to reassure the electorate that votes will count and that only leaders freely elected by the people in a free, fair and credible process will emerge.

“The FG and INEC have demonstrated this commitment in the governorship and senatorial elections held recently in Anambara and same will be replicated in Ebonyi in 2019,” Nwachukwu said.

The chairman on behalf of other committee members assured the party of commitment to the task, pledging not to leave any stone unturned in effective mobilisation.