Cross River Govt. Targets 6m Votes Come 2027 ... Establishes Support Centres For CVR Exercise
Hannah ARIKPO
The Cross River state government has established support centres for effective coverage of the on-going Continuous Voter Registration Exercise across the eighteen local government areas of the state.
The measure which is in line with government's commitment to deliver six million votes for the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC from the state in the next general election was geared towards complementing the efforts of INEC in the exercise.
Chief of Staff to the Governor, Hon. Emmanuel Ironbar stated this during the Flagg-Off of the Public Sensitisation on Continuous Voters Registration Exercise organised by the the Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth Mobilisation-South, Comrade Ekpo Tete held at the NLC secretariat in Calabar.
Ironbar who spoke through the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on political affairs, office of the Chief of Staff, Hon. Dunamis Archibong, explained that the exercise which has kicked off already in the seven LGAs in the southern senatorial district with the training of Tech-personel will be extended to the central and northern parts of the state. It involves local government volunteers and adhoc staff recruited by local government Chairmen in their respective Councils.
He noted that two support centres are created in each local government and will work side-by -side with the local government Council Committees for the same purpose adding that the groups will cover hard to reach areas where INEC could not reach to ensure every Cross Riverian is captured online.
The Chief of Staff charged stakeholders, political appointees from both state and local government areas to ensure the success of the exercise.
"This strategy is to demonstrate government commitment to ensure online registration of every individual of eligible age residing in Cross River and can pick up their cards from INEC after the whole process.
"Our Governor, Senator Prince Bassey Otu has introduced the establishment of support centres into the CVR process for the first time to change the narrative meaning it is no longer business as usual where one person takes the exercise to a preferred destination." He explained.
Earlier the Special Assistant to the Governor Youth Mobilisation-South, Comrade Ekpo Tete, charged the youths to begin massive campaign for effective participation in the continuous voter registration among their peers, families and communities, saying, six million votes must count for Sen. Prince Otu and President Bola Tinubu's reelection bid.
He advised the youths to shun the temptation of anti- party politics for peanuts but take a look at the developmental achievements recorded by the current APC administration.
" You cannot support Prince Otu without owning a PVC A politician without a PVC is like going to school without a textbook or writing pen. You must get registered, PVC is our power," He reechoed.
In their submissions, SSAs and SAs outlined the numerous importance of owning a Permanent Voter Card, PVC such as bank transaction, schooling, travelling, securing loans, approvals as well as voting in any election in the Country.
They resolved to go out and create massive awareness for total participation in the on go Continuos Voter Registration Exercise.
