Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has called on the Southeast Governors to take advantage of the extended period of the collection of PVCs by the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) and declare public holidays to compel Ndigbo to go for their PVCs.
The group called on all eligible Igbo voters to go and collect their PVCs from their political wards in the 774 LGAs across the country where they are residents, even as it lamented that there are so many uncollected voters card in the 94 local government areas of southeast.
Secretary-General of the Igbo group, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, made the call yesterday in a statement issued in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital.
He said, “the Southeast Governors should arrange mobilization strategies and enlightenment awareness campaigns through the party leaders at the ward levels, either elected or appointed Councillors to coerce Ndigbo to go and collect their PVCs before the expiration date of 29th January 2023.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo urges the Southeast Governors to put up strict regulations in place to ensure that all Igbo parents must present their PVCs before registering their children back to schools, and all workers should not be paid their salaries without showing their PVCs.
“We call on State Governors to declare work-free days and public holidays for civil and public servants to go and collect their PVCs. Meanwhile, Igbo traders and Motorists must show their PVCs before they gain access to the Markets and Motor parks, this is the only way to get Igbos compelled to go to their wards for their uncollected PVCs ”
“Ndigbo should not allow this opportunity to pass by without doing the needful, as it’s a wake-up call to all eligible Igbo voters across the country to rise and pick up their PVCs wherever they are residents.
“From INEC data, Igbo voters constitute about 45% of all eligible voters across the country. The population of eligible Igbo voters across the country can contribute to the victory of any Presidential Candidate of their choice, that is why everyone should aggressively come out to rewrite the history of the Igbo by collecting their PVCs and voting for the advancement and progress of Nigeria in the 2023 elections, let us make hay while the sun is shining “, the statement reads.
Ohanaeze, enjoined the southeast governors, southeast religious leaders, Association of Town Union President Generals in the southeast, Southeast Market leaders, Students, and Community leaders to jointly ensure that all PVCs get to all the eligible Voters in the zone.
Noting, “We are collaborating with Igbo Governors to make sure that uncollected PVCs reach to the owners before the elections and we are ready to take extra measures through special arrangements to ensure that PVCs are shared to all eligible voters through the use of Traditional Institutions and Church leadership to assist in the disbursements of PVCs across the 95 LGAs of the Southeast “.