Ahead of the 2023 general elections, Advocacy for Civic Engagement Centre, Conveners of WeVote have deployed buses in some strategic locations of the country to transport Nigerians especially youths to collect their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs).
LEADERSHIP report that the WeVote project, Bus Drive Campaign for the #SixtyPercentOfUs is a partnership with YIAGA Africa and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
WeVote will be providing free buses to transport people in Bwari and Kuje Area Councils and Ogun and Ondo States to INEC offices to register and collect their PVC’s
Speaking at the launch of the programme in Abuja, the Executive Director, Advocacy for Civic Engagement Centre, and Convener of WeVote, Mr. Obinna Osisiogu, said that PVC Bus Drive Project will support at least 60 percent of eligible young voters to register, collect their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) and vote in the 2023 elections.
“The project was initiated to eliminate the logistical barriers hindering some Nigerians, particularly those residing in rural areas from participating in the ongoing continuous voters’ registration exercise and collecting their PVCs thereafter,” Obinna said adding that WeVote is working in collaboration with Yiaga Africa and the UNDP and will provide free bus service in two area councils in the FCT, as well as across the LGAs in Ondo and Ogun states.
“This will enable the people to access the INEC office nearest to them as part of the traditional and non-traditional means of political mobilisation.
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that over 20 million Permanent Voter Cards are yet to be claimed.
INEC, which expressed worry over non participation of youths in politics, said most Nigerian youths basically live on social media that will not determine who wins the next election.
The commission also decried the poor participation of citizens in the ongoing continuous voters’ registration exercise.
INEC’s Deputy Director, Voter Education, Mrs Mary Nkem, stated this at the launch of the PVC Bus Drive project, organised by a non-governmental organisation, the Advocacy for Civic Engagement, in Abuja on Wednesday.
She, therefore, urged Nigerians, especially the youth demographic to be actively involved in the process of electing new leaders that will affect true change and move the country forward.
According to INEC, votes not social media will determine the winners of the 2023 general elections.
The Commission said, “This CVR exercise began on the 30th of June, 2021, but we have discovered that between that time and a few weeks ago, the turnout has been relatively low.
“If the youths in this country would come out en masse to cast their votes, we will no longer be recording 15 or 20 percent voter turnout in our elections, because we know that the population of the youths alone can make a difference.
“The youths no longer visit social media, they basically live there today. Therefore, when you want to reach out to them, you must go to where you will meet them – social media.
“However, I would like to say that INEC does not conduct an election on social media nor do we count ballots on Twitter or Instagram.
“Our ballots are counted in the ballot box. It is only the ballot paper that enters into the ballot box that the Commission counts.
“So, what does that mean? It means that on election day people must go out to cast their votes. For you to be able to do so, you must be a registered voter and in possession of a PVC.”
In his remarks, the Executive Director, Advocacy for Civic Engagement, Barr. Obinna Osisiogu, said that the PVC Bus Drive Project will support at least 60 percent of eligible young voters to register, collect their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) and vote in the 2023 elections.
According to him, the project was initiated to eliminate the logistical barriers hindering some Nigerians, particularly those residing in rural areas from participating in the ongoing continuous voters’ registration exercise and collecting their PVCs thereafter.
He explained that ACE working in collaboration with Yiaga Africa and the UNDP will provide free bus service in two area councils in the FCT, as well as across the LGAs in Ondo and Ogun states to enable the people to accessing the INEC office nearest to them as part of the traditional and non-traditional means of political mobilisation.
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