Be Apostle Of PVC Registration, Fubara Tells GDI As Group Takes Sensitisation To Ikwerre

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Gubernatorial candidate for the 2023 elections in Rivers Stare, Amaopusenibo Siminialayi Fubara, has harped on the importance of the Permanent Voters’ Card registration exercise, calling on those who were yet to register and collect theirs, to do so without delay.
The governorship candidate said this at the PVC sensitisation programme, organised by the Grassroot Development Initiative (GDI), in Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state, last Sunday.
The event, which took place at St. Anthony’s Primary School, Igwuruta, attracted hundreds of members of the organisation from across the state, and featured ward-by-ward gyration and solidarity speeches by stakeholders of Ikwerre Local Government Area and the Senatorial candidate of Rivers East Senatorial District, Chief Allwell Onyesoh.
Fubara, who clarified that the event was not for campaign purposes, noted that it was to sensitise the people of Ikwerre on the need to register and obtain their PVC.
“We are not here for campaigns. The reason why we are here is to encourage our people, members of GDI to preach to more people, encourage them to go and get their PVC. That is why we are here. We are not here to talk about election. We are not here to talk about party. GDI is a pressure group it is not a political party so the purpose of our gathering this afternoon is to tell us the reason why we should encourage our wards, people to increase their drive for PVC “.
Fubara encouraged everyone to be patient and wait for the time of campaign when he will speak as someone who has come for campaigns.
The PDP standard bearer advised those who have any issue with their PVC to go and rectify them.
“What you have to do now is to make sure that those your PVCs that are not working, make them functional. In fact, turn yourself into Jehovah’sWitness of PVC by going from house-to-house preaching about PVC. It is not about who you want to vote for: Take note; that is not why we are here”.
Fubara, who described GDI as a member of the family and the soul of the state, hinted that every other group sprang up from GDI, explaining that this was the reason why they decided to start the PVC sensitisation programme with the GDI.
He urged the people of Ikwerre to continue to support Governor Nyesom Wike, pray for him for strength, direction and success.
The PDP Gubernatorial candidate also thanked the people of Ikwerre for turning out in their numbers for the sensitisation programme and God for the success of the programme.
This position was also canvassed by other speakers at the event.
In his speech, the Rivers State PDP Chairman, Amb. Desmond Akawor called on the people of Ikwerre to mobilise to participate actively in the forthcoming elections, urging them to see the 2023 elections as a duty they owe the state and generations of Rivers people yet unborn.
He charged all those who have clocked 18 years and above to register to vote and see the exercise as a responsibility they owe to posterity to help shape the course of democracy and good governance in the state.
Speaking, the Chairman of Ikwerre Local Government Area, Engr. Samuel Nwanosike, emphasised that a leader must live by example.
While speaking directly to Fubara, Nwanosike, who is the general secretary of Grassroot Development Initiative (GDI) said, “Sir, we want to tell you here a leader must live by example. I have my PVC card with me here. I will not just talk of my own, I will vote, so my wife will vote, my brothers and sisters will vote, my chiefs will vote, my followers will vote, non-indigenes will vote, all the 13 political wards of Ikwerre will vote. Ikwerre is PDP”.
While saying that the process of voting Sir Siminialayi Fubara as governor of Rivers State has just kick-started, Nwanosike assured that those who were yet to collect their PVCs from INEC office would do so because of the PDP’s gubernatorial candidate’s appearance in Ikwerre LGA.
He said, “Today, you have just told us that the job has started. Seeing you in Ikwerre Local Government Area, today, the remaining PVCs in INEC that have not been collected will be collected”.
Nwanosike stated that GDI would ensure that eligible voters across the 319 wards of Rivers State register for voter’s card, collect it and cast their votes for PDP in all the elections come 2023.
Others who spoke to galvanise public awareness and desire to participate in elections were President General of GDI, Chief Bright Amaewhule; GDI Coordinator in Ikwerre LGA, Hon. Charles Wobodo; PDP Chairman in Ikwerre LGA, Hon. Dennis Amadi; Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Prince Chinedu Mmom; Chairman of Obio/Akpor LGA, Barrister George Ariolu; Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Ikuinye-Owaji Ibani; Rivers East Senatorial District PDP Candidate, Chief Allwell Onyeso; Ikwerre/Emuoha Federal Constituency PDP Candidate, Barrister Boniface Emerengwa; and Ikwerre State Constituency PDP Candidate, Hon. Prince Lemchi Nyeche.
The Deputy Governorship Candidate, Prof Ngozi Ordu; the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Edison Ihie; Deputy PDP Chairman, Hon Chukwuemeka Aaron; PDP State Secretary, Dr Benibo George; the chairmen of Ahoada East, Ben Eke; Akuku-Toru, Hon. Roland Sekibo; Andoni, Barrister Erastus Awortu; and Etche, Hon. Obinna Anyanwu; also reminded the people of the area, and particularly GDI members, to sustain the momentum, and encourage grassroots dwellers to register, and vote candidates of their choice during the elections.

By: Nelson Chukwudi