FCTA, Partners Take Voter Registration Awareness Campaign To Abuja Markets

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), through the Area Councils Services Secretariat, in partnership with the University of Calabar Graduates Elite Club and the Abuja Markets Management Agency (AMMA), has launched an intensive voter sensitisation campaign across major markets in Abuja to encourage residents to register as voters, collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and participate actively in the electoral process.

The campaign, which covered Garki Main Market, Garki International Market and Wuse Market, was aimed at educating traders, customers and other stakeholders on the importance of voter registration and civic engagement ahead of future elections.

Speaking during the exercise, President of the University of Calabar Graduates Elite Club, Dr. Uzo-Udegbunam Chioma, said the initiative was prompted by widespread ignorance among residents regarding the ongoing voter registration exercise and procedures for obtaining or replacing PVCs.

According to her, many residents approached members of the group with questions about the registration process, prompting the organisation to embark on a public awareness campaign.

“We discovered that a large number of people are unaware that voter registration is ongoing. Some do not know where to register, while others whose PVCs are missing are unsure of the steps required to replace them. This information gap informed our decision to take the message directly to the people,” she said.

Chioma, who is also a senior official of FCTA, noted that the markets were strategically selected because they offered access to a large number of residents within a short period.

She disclosed that more than 1,000 flyers containing voter education information were distributed during the exercise, adding that the response from traders and members of the public exceeded expectations.

“We initially considered working through community leaders, but we realised that the markets would provide a wider reach. The response has been overwhelming, which shows that people are eager to participate once they have the right information,” she said.

The UNICAL Graduates Elite Club president stressed that the campaign would be sustained across communities in the Federal Capital Territory, while efforts would be made to involve the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in future exercises to provide official clarification on issues raised by residents.

She also urged government agencies to intensify voter education programmes, noting that many citizens remain confused about voter registration procedures and PVC replacement processes.

“There is still a lot of work to be done. We encourage residents to seek accurate information from INEC offices and take advantage of the opportunity to register and obtain their voter cards,” she added.

Chioma further appealed to residents not to lose confidence in the democratic process, describing voting as a fundamental civic responsibility.

“Citizens should not be discouraged. Every eligible Nigerian should ensure they are registered and possess a valid PVC. Through active participation, we can contribute to building a better society,” she stated.

Also speaking, Chairman of Garki International Market, Mr Onyawan Chukwu, commended the organisers for bringing voter education directly to the grassroots, describing the initiative as timely and beneficial to democratic development.

He called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to consider establishing temporary voter registration centres within major markets to make registration more accessible to traders and other residents.

“We appreciate this initiative because it is helping to educate our people. We will continue to support efforts that encourage citizens to participate in the electoral process. A better Nigeria is in the interest of all of us,” he said.

Chukwu disclosed that the market management was prepared to engage INEC on the possibility of deploying registration officials to the market for several days to enable unregistered traders and those who have lost their PVCs to complete the necessary processes.

According to him, Garki International Market, with over 3,000 shops and more than 10,000 traders, presents a strategic location for voter mobilisation and registration activities.

He assured organisers of the market’s commitment to supporting voter education campaigns and mobilising traders to register, collect their PVCs and participate in elections

The sensitisation exercise forms part of broader efforts by the FCTA and its partners to deepen democratic participation, promote voter awareness and improve access to registration services across the Federal Capital Territory.

Organisers expressed optimism that continued collaboration with INEC, the National Orientation Agency and community stakeholders would further strengthen voter education and increase citizens’ participation in future elections.