Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the leading sociopolitical organization of the Igbo people, has urged the governors of the South-east states to designate public holidays so that citizens may pick up their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
In a statement sent to media by its Secretary-General, Worldwide, Mr. Okechukwu Isiguzoro, Ohanaeze Ndigbo stated that strict measures should be used to compel Igbos to obtain their PVCs within the allotted time period before to the upcoming general elections in 2023.
It continued: “Before the expiration date of January 29, 2023, the South-east governors should organize mobilization plans and awareness campaigns through party leaders at the ward levels and elected or appointed councillors.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo urges the South-east governors to put up strict regulations in place to ensure that all Igbo parents must present their PVCs before registering their children in schools and all workers should not earn 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.”
The group added that traders must also be made to show their PVCs before gaining access to markets.
“Ndigbo should not allow this opportunity to pass by without doing the needful.
“This is a wake-up call to all eligible Igbo voters across the country to rise and pick up their PVCs wherever they are.
“We are collaborating with the governors to make sure that uncollected PVCs get 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 across the 95 LGAs of the South-east,” it added.
