FCTA COLLABORATES WITH INEC, FCT FLAGS-OFF CAMPAIGN ON PVC COLLECTION

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) in collaboration with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), FCT, and the leadership of FCT youths flagged off the sensitization campaign on the collection of permanent Voters Cards (PVCs).

In preparation for the impending general elections, which is February 25, the campaign followed a perceived poor turnout of registered voters to obtain their PVCs, to this end, heads of the 62 electoral wards of Abuja were engaged to educate residents on the PVC collection message and indigenes in the grassroots level.

The campaign was graced with the presence of Mrs. Aisha Baiyee who represented the Minister of State of FCT, Dr. (Mrs) Ramatu Tijani Aliyu advised residents of FCT to get their PVC to enable them to participate in the election and vote for their desired aspirants.

She added that voting in elections was their civic responsibility, Dr. Aliyu told the people not to allow the opportunity to contribute to choosing their preferred leaders to pass them.

Also speaking, Special Adviser to the FCT Minister and Executive Director, Abuja Original Inhabitants Youth Empowerment Organization, AOIYEO, who is also the initiator of the event, Commandant Isaac David, explained that he initiated the event to urge youths of the FCT to actively participate in the voting exercises during the forthcoming general elections.

“If you can agree with me across the 36 states including FCT, we are the first people to initiate a program called ‘Collect Your PVC Close To Your Ward.” The reason is that in this 2023 general elections, the youths want to take the lead in the voting and also the accountability of our leaders in the future because we cannot afford to leave the politics in the hands of our politicians. We need to checkmate them and also guide them. Another reason is that voter cards are important to our lives.

Those who are living in the communities because they are tired of voting for the bad leaders in society are discouraged from getting the PVC. But we really need to enlighten them on why PVC is important to their lives. Not only for voting but for other business angles of it.

PVC is the only key that you can use to bring your leaders to governance and PVC is the only way you can hold your leaders accountable because any politician is your messenger but without your PVC you have no privilege and the right to call the politicians to be accountable or transparent.”

Permanent Secretary, Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, who was represented by the Mandate Secretary, Area Councils Services Secretariat, Alhaji Ibrahim Abubakar Dantsoho expressed happiness on the increased turnout of registered voters in the FCT

Also speaking at the event, was the Chairman, the National Association of Nigerian Students, FCT Chapter, Comrade Peter Jesse:

 “By collecting our PVCs, it will help us usher in the government we want, it will help us usher in the government we desire. Staying at home, and neglecting the collection of our PVC, automatically means we are comfortable with the situation of the country.

It is on record that the National Association of Nigerian Students took to our various campuses in FCT, to campaign to our students to come out and register and not to just collect their PVCs, but also vote,” he said.