Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has advised Abia residents to register and get their Permanent Voters Card and also urged Traditional Rulers and Community heads to mobilize their subjects.
Governor Okezie Ikpeazu represented by the State Commissioner For Documentation and Strategic Communications, Chief Ugochukwu Emezue during the Zonal Intervention/Constituency Projects Training of Youths and Women of Abia Central Senatorial Districts on “Voter Registration” organised by NOA, Abia State in collaboration with Senator representing Abia Central Senatorial District, Senator Theodore Orji.
He commended Senator Theodore Orji for displaying quality representation by partnering NOA to sensitize the public on voter registration and elections.
Contributing, the Senator representing Abia Central, Theodore Orji represented by former Commissioner in Abia State, Longman Nwachukwu appealed to people that this is the time to right the wrongs through their voting strength. Orji enjoined people not to complain again but take advantage of the continuous voter registration to get their PVCs while those who have not registered should do so.
The Director General of NOA, Dr. Garba Abari represented by Barrister Charles Nwaorji stressed the need to deepen democracy in Nigeria down to the rural areas. He said the target audience, women and the youths formed the greater percent of voters, adding that a lot need to be done to capture more voters especially at the rural areas.
He called for positive involvement of more youths and women to ensure that credible Leaders are elected into office.
Dr. Abari appealed to those causing insecurity in the South East to embrace peace for the development of the Zone and guarantee free flow of democratic process.
On her part, the State Director of National Orientation Agency, Dr. Ngozi Okechukwu assured the public that NOA will leverage on every available platform to ensure that good governance is enthroned in Nigeria.
Dr. Ngozi Okechukwu disclosed that the one-day zonal intervention/constituency Project is aimed at making timely and reliable Information on the 2023 general elections available and accessible to all constituents .
To achieve universal coverage of the electorate, Dr. Okechukwu said they will cascade this training to the six local governments in Abia Central in Igbo languages to better understanding of voting processes.
According to her, if people have adequate information and understand them, they can make the right decisions to elect true Leaders that the society desires.
The State NOA Director said the training targets women because a culture where women are encouraged to participate in the electoral process must be instituted along with addressing the exclusion of the teeming youth population from decision-making.
Dr. Okechukwu added that women have the right to vote and leadership positions as much as men.
Her words “But this is not achievable until they have the requisite knowledge to “break the bias” and alleviate double discrimination and standards against women.”
On his part, the Chairman of occasion and Chairman, Abia State Independent Electoral Commission, ABSIEC, Professor Mkpa Agu Mkpa thanked NOA for their innovations, adding that the Agency has done well in educating the populace on the activities of the day.
According to him, it is no more business as usual, therefore, Abians have the right to elect credible people that have the trust of people, stressing that people should collect money from political office seekers and vote the right persons.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Abia State, Dr Joseph Iloh, represented by the Head legal department, INEC, Barrister Ijeoma Amaechi delivered a paper on the topic, “Engaging Youths and Women on Effective Voter Participation for Increased Voter Enrollment and Peaceful Elections.
Resource Persons that presented papers on various topics included:
1. Dr. Joseph Iloh (Resident Electoral Commissioner, INEC Abia State).
2. Prof. Ogbonna Onuoha (Deputy Vice Chancellor, ABSU).
3. Rev. Fr. (Barr) David Aguneri (Director, Justice Development & Peace Commission).
4. Mr. David Akoji (NOA Headquarters, Abuja).
The Training which attracted Civil Society Organisations, Women and Youths, Traditional Heads, also featured Questions and Answer.
Ijeoma Amah
FIC,Umuahia, Abia State
