“The nonchalant attitude in the past to issues concerning registration and actual voting has been the major reason why we continue to have bad leadership in the state. – Ceekay Igara
The Abia Christian community (ACC).has commended prospective voters in the state for heeding it’s appeal to register and re-validate their voters cards (PVC) during the on going registration exercise by the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, noting that it is targeting about 3 million registered voters at the end of the exercise by early June 2022. The acc, which comprises among other groups, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Africa in Praise Network . Apnet, Nigerian Christian Graduate Forum. (ncgf), Aba Elders Forum and Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) had on February 6 this year at a special prayer session held at Aba town hall to seek God,s intervention in the myraid of challenges facing the state , tasked electorate in Abia to obtain their PVC in readiness for the divine assignment of liberating the state from the serial leadership failure currently afflicting it.
Speaking last Monday with sunnewstimes, the acc , through one of its major coordinators Hon. Ceekay Igara said so far the ACC is happy with the level of response by the electorate to the registration exercise. Hon. Igara who is also the state Chairman, Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) Abia State Chapter. also expressed the optimism that by the time the exercise will come to an end by first week of June, about 3 million prospective voters would have registered.
“So far we are pleased with the level of response to our appeal by Abia voters. we have been monitoring the registration exercise since it commenced and our findings revealed that at each of the registration centres in the 17 local councils of the state, about 150 people are registered daily. What this means is that we are hopeful of recording almost 3 million prospective voters at the end of the exercise. this is a complete departure from the old attitude of our people during such exercise.
“Some mischievous people have been going about selling the erroneous idea that igbos don’t have the voting strength. But the truth of the matter is that all over the country, after the indigenous people in any state the Igbos are the highest in number.
The nonchalant attitude in the past to issues concerning registration and actual voting has been the major reason why we continue to have bad leadership in the state. This is because, when the people refuse to register and vote , the cabal which have been holding down the state will capitalize on the situation to rig themselves into power ,and continue plundering the state. But with the awareness we have created among the voters and their positive response so far, coupled with the new electoral act it will not be business as usual. If the people continue to avail themselves with this voters registration exercise, I can assure you that come 2023 general elections the people will decide for the first time since 1999 the direction the state will go.” Hon. Igara noted.
The acc. Coordinator who is also the Chairman of Labour Party in Abia further stated that to ensure that more prospective voters are captured, before the end of the exercise, the acc is partnering with inec. to take the registration exercise to Churches. According to him, the pilot scheme will commence this week at some churches in Aba, adding that they are leaving nothing to chance in their quest for the good people of Abia state to equip themselves with the pvc weapon in readiness for the divine assignment of liberating the state from all forms of bondage, maladministration, corruption and misrule.”
It is not enough for the people to be mourning the sad situation in the state,. They have to take practical steps towards effecting the needed change and as far as we know, under this situation the best practical step is to make sure that you have the instrument of change, which is the pvc’s.
I must confess that from our findings so far , the people are really ready .”
“With the awareness we have created among the voters and their positive response so far, coupled with the new electoral act it will not be business as usual
Hon Ceekay Igara however while commending Abia electorate for making themselves available for registration ,also appealed to Igbo people of South East Nigeria and across the nation to do same as that is the only way to prove to some detractors who have been holding the wrong belief that Igbos don’t have enough voting strength.”
You see some mischievous people have been going about selling the erroneous idea that igbos don’t have the voting strength. But the truth of the matter is that all over the country, after the indigenous people in any state the Igbos are the highest in number.
But this numerical strength has not been made to count during elections simply because of the nonchalant attitude of the people towards registration exercise and actual voting. We are therefore appealing strongly to the Igbos of the South East region where ever they may be residing to go and register as that is the only way they can realize their political aspirations” Hon. Ceekay Igara advised
