Politics
2023: INEC Tasks Ebonyi Voters On PVC Collection
Ahead of the 2023 general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged voters in Ebonyi, who are yet to claim their permanent permanent voter cards (PVCs), to go and collect them.
Dr Christian Elekwa, INEC’s Head of Department, Voter Education and Publicity (VEP) in Ebonyi, gave the advice in an interview with newsmen on Thursday in Abakaliki.
“He said that the PVC is the only right and qualification the citizens have to participate in choosing their elected leaders at the polls.
“We urged registered voters who are yet to collect their voter cards to go to the local government areas they registered to collect them.
“The choice of who becomes our elected leaders are entirely in the hands of the voters and only those with their permanent voter cards (PVC) can exercise this civic choice,” Elekwa said.
He noted that the electoral body is fully committed to consolidating the country’s democracy through the conduct of credible periodic elections, assuring that no stone would be left unturned in achieving the mandate.
He emphasised that the commission in Ebonyi under the leadership of Dr Joseph Chukwu, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), had taken several steps to ensure that the 2023 election in the state is free, fair, credible, inclusive and safe.
“INEC, therefore, appeals that valid registered voters should come out en masse to choose their leaders in the February 25 Presidential and National Assembly polls as well as in the March 11 governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections.
“We have commenced radio and television jingles in English, pidgin English, Igbo and local dialects to sensitise and mobilise the voting public in the state to participate in the election,” he added.
The official, who stressed that the collection of PVC was not by proxy, urged the electorate to shun electoral violence, thuggery, vote buying, vote selling and other malpractices that could compromise the integrity and credibility of the outcome of the election.
“Security personnel will be on ground to forestall any incidences of electoral offence while culprits will be arrested and treated according to the law,” he said.
On the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BIVAS) to conduct the 2023 general election, he said that Prof Mahmoud Yakubu, the commission’s national chairman, had made it clear that INEC would use BIVAS to enhance voter confidence in the election process as well as ensure that the accreditation and voting in the election are seamless, credible and transparent.
“We wish to reassure the general public, especially the electorate, that the 2023 general elections will be conducted with the use of technology to guarantee credibility, transparency and to meet the International best standard,” he added.
The Tide source reports that Prof. Akinoso was elected alongside 38 other executive members of the party at the congress held on Saturday.
Other executive members are Dr Abiola Olaonipekun, who emerged as Secretary, Alhaja Latifah Latifu, Women Leader and Mr A. Adeleke, elected as Youth Leader.
It was learnt that the congress, which took place at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Oke Ado in Ibadan, was attended by representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Police, other security agencies and prominent members of the party.
The election was supervised by electoral committee members, among whom were Prince Diran Odeyemi, who served as Chairman, Hon. Awoniyi Tolulope, Mr Babatunde Gbadamosi, Queen Stepheine Oyechere, Alhaji Yusuf Abidakun, Mr Olumide Aguda and Dr Phillips Adeniyi, who served as Secretary.
Prof. Akinoso, in his inaugural address, urged members of the party to set aside intra-party differences.
He advised them to concentrate their resources on the promotion of the party, saying, “The primary responsibilities of party executive members are to coordinate party activities, ensure harmony among members, and ensure party victory during general elections.
“Our immediate assignments are to key into INEC released 2027 general election time-tables. As directed by the National Caretaker Committee of PDP, our party e-membership registration starts next week. We must be fully involved and do a membership drive.
“A political party is only relevant and benefits its members if it wins the election. This is our goal. We should set aside intra-party differences; concentrate our resources towards the promotion of the party. We will make necessary consultations and dialogue to actualise this”.
President Tinubu disclosed this during an interfaith breaking of fast with senior journalists and media executives at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Saturday.
He also disclosed that his administration had opened up on the principles of true federalism to the extent that local governments now get direct allocation from the Federal Government.
“There’s no morning that I ever leave my house without going through the newspapers. It’s an addiction. I read all of you.
“It might not be in full detail, but headline, the one that would hit me and the ones that won’t.
“At the beginning of this administration, I was just a little bit stubborn, looking at opportunities to correct things and make life more easier for the downtrodden.
“We’ve opened up the principle of federalism to the extent that local governments are now getting their money, but how they use it is in your hands. So, don’t bombard me alone,” President Tinubu said.
The ruling party said the ADC had turned criticism of the APC-led administration into its operating manifesto instead of presenting concrete solutions to Nigeria’s economic challenges.
In a statement issued on Saturday by the APC National Publicity Secretary, Mr Felix Morka, the party dismissed the ADC’s interpretation of a report presented at a policy dialogue organised by Agora Policy which suggested that the country’s poverty rate had risen from 49 per cent to 63 per cent.
Mr Morka said the opposition party’s reaction to the report as a “damning verdict” on the government’s economic policies reflected either ignorance of economic realities or deliberate political mischief.
“The African Democratic Congress’ attempt to spin a recent report presented at the Agora Policy dialogue indicating a rise of poverty rate of 63 per cent from 49 per cent as a damning verdict on this administration’s economic policies speaks either to its shocking ignorance of economic policy or its wilful blindness to the justification for, and transformative impacts of, ongoing economic reforms,” he said.
The APC spokesman noted that the report itself recognised the necessity of reforms aimed at correcting long-standing structural distortions in the economy.
According to him, the ADC had failed to present any credible alternative policy direction for Nigerians.
“Clearly, the ADC does not recognise itself as a political party. The ADC has not articulated a single alternative policy position or prescription of benefit to Nigerians. Condemning the APC and its policies has become its operating manifesto,” Mr Morka said.
He explained that major economic decisions taken by President Bola Tinubu, including the removal of fuel subsidy and the unification of multiple foreign exchange windows, were necessary steps to rescue the country’s economy from collapse.
Mr Morka said the subsidy regime had for years placed a heavy burden on public finances, consuming trillions of naira annually while encouraging corruption, fuel smuggling and inefficiencies in the system.
He added that the reforms had helped redirect national resources to key sectors such as infrastructure, healthcare, education and social development.
The APC spokesman acknowledged that economic reforms often come with short-term hardship but stressed that the measures were essential to build a stronger and more resilient economy.
“Economic reform is never cost-free anywhere in the world. The transient hardship experienced by Nigerians was an inevitable cost of reforms meant to build and guarantee a better future for all Nigerians,” he said.
Mr Morka maintained that the country’s economic outlook was already improving, citing recent growth figures and stronger external reserves.
“Our economy has rebounded and is expanding steadily. The country’s Gross Domestic Product grew by 4.4 per cent last year and is projected to expand by 5.5 per cent this fiscal year, with foreign reserves now exceeding $50 billion,” he stated.
He also pointed to government initiatives designed to cushion the effects of economic adjustments on citizens, including cash transfer programmes, student loan schemes and the rollout of compressed natural gas (CNG) initiatives to reduce transportation costs.
Mr Morka reaffirmed that the APC-led administration would remain focused on rebuilding the economy and expanding social investments to support vulnerable Nigerians.