One
of the major confirmations of an individual's attainment of full
citizenship rights is his ability to vote and be voted for in the
electoral process of any country. The right to vote is quite often
referred to as the Universal adult suffrage. Yes, the right to vote of
every citizen of every country that is of legal age. In Nigeria and many
other counties, Universal adult suffrage is pegged at the age of 18
years. However like in the coming of age rites and initiation in
Igboland, one is required to fulfill certain conditions in order to
fully exercise the right to vote - You have to be registered in order to
be able to vote.
At
no time is this important requirement imperative for all adults in
Nigeria and indeed Anambra State than now. Graciously, the Independent
National Electoral Commission (INEC) graciously extended the deadline
for the collection of Permanent Voters Card (PVC), from the previous
January 31st to Sunday February 8, 2015 to enable registered voters yet
to collect the PVCs, the opportunity to do so in readiness for the
February 2015 general elections. What this simply means is that those
who are of age and are not registered have lost the opportunity for now
until after the elections, but those already registered can collect
their card in readiness for voting on the election days.
According
to INEC records, Anambra State has over 1.7 million registered voters,
and in line with the new system participation by all the duly registered
voters in the coming elections is hinged on the ownership of PVC.
Unfortunately, there is serious course for worry that a good number of
the registered voters in Anambra State and other parts of the country
are yet to collect their PVCs, hence the latest extension of the
deadline by INEC.
INEC
has designated the collection of PVCs at the Wards or Registration
areas. However, it has been noted that some duly registered persons who
have lost their permanent voters card are also reluctant to turn-up for
the collection. The fact is that you do not necessarily need to have
your temporary voters card in order to pick up your PVC. If possible,
you should bring another form of ID in case you are asked for proof of
identity, but it should not be required. The major requirement is that
your name appeared on the voter register and that it can be
authenticated
Now
that INEC is in the final stages of the distribution of PVCs. It
behooves on all and sundry to join hands in the ongoing sensitization
across communities to ensure that most, if not all registered voters are
able to perform the civic responsibility of casting their vote during
the elections. Ndi Anambra should not dither over the importance of the
forth-coming elections and the need to obtain the only instrument that
enables one determine the quality of leadership at all levels of
governance in Nigeria.
It
is heart-warming that the Executive governor of Anambra State, Chief
Willie Obiano and his wife, Chief (Mrs.) Ebelechukwu Obiano has been in
the vanguard of the mobilization of Ndi Anambra of voting age to collect
the PVC. In apparent display of a sense of duty and nonpartisan zeal,
the Obiano’s have made the call for Ndi Anambra to go and collect their
PVCs a mantra in most of their public functions since the exercise
commenced. This is without prejudice to the notifications through
various media of mass communications.
In
the same vein we urge the Local Government Chairmen, Councilors,
President Generals of the various town unions and royal fathers, the
clergy and leadership of markets across the state and all men and women
of goodwill to lend their voices and logistics support to INEC officials
where necessary, to ensure that the PVCs are collected by the owners.
This
is the time for new adults amongst Ndi Anambra to actualize their
dreams of having the power to vote people of their choice, just as the
regular voters would ensure that they are ready to vote too. That way we
would elect men of character who will give us quality representation at
all levels, and work for the consolidation of the giant strides of the
state government. All told, we must make sure that those whose names are
in the voters’ register collect their Permanent Voter Cards before the
deadline. The time to act is now!
Emeka Ozumba, a public affairs commentator writes from Enugwu-Ukwu
