ETIM EFFIONG
The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Region 14, Akwa Ibom State, wants the collaboration of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to facilitate the registration and collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) for its members.
Mr Peter Inyang, Regional Coordinator of Region 14, Directorate of Politics and Governance (DPG) made the request in Uyo on Wednesday during a courtesy visit of his team to the Akwa Ibom Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Mr Mike Igini.
Inyang said that the RCCG Directorate of Politics and Governance was created in Jan. to coordinate the affairs and activities of its members interested in seeking political offices.
According to him, other objectives of the directorate include; creating awareness and sensitisation of RCCG members for effective political participation, mobilising members to register and play their own roles including collecting their PVCs and registering in any political party of their choice.
“One of the major challenges is that even with the large membership base RCCG has in Akwa Ibom State, a lot of our members who are eligible to vote do not have PVCs.
“This is partly due to the difficulty in obtaining one, coupled with a previous attitude of general apathy to politics. Again, the recently announced deadline for registration for PVCs is 30th June 2022 makes it more difficult.
“Consequently, fulfilling our key objective which is to facilitate registration, and collection of PVCs by/for RCCG members and encourage them to participate in the voting process in 2023, is a very difficult task.
“Hence, the need for collaboration with your good office in the following areas is imperative. We request that a registration centre be set up in each of the 13 RCCG Provinces in Akwa Ibom State to expedite the registration and collection of PVCs by members.
“Also, we humbly request that INEC officials visit each of the RCCG Provinces in Akwa Ibom State for education, sensitization and awareness of RCCG members’ civic and moral obligations to partake in elections,” Inyang said.
In his response, Igini commended the RCCG team for the initiative, saying that the commission has actually been looking forward to such collaboration, given the fact that the 2023 elections are around the corner.
Igini added that it was important that citizens get actively involved in electoral processes, stressing that issues that affect human life, socially, politically, everything were all embedded in politics and the political process.
“If you don’t participate, given that all these issues are embedded in politics and political processes, you will be completely excluded in terms of their internal and external outcome.
“So, the subject of this engagement, no doubt is one that is so important in terms of its significance as we approach the 2023 elections.
“You talked about how we could partner, work together in terms of Voter and Civic Education, civic and voters education is a multi-stakeholders responsibility.
“All other stakeholders, everybody, more than ever before, given what is going on in the country, must come together to ensure that the 2023 election should be one that all adults of full age and competent understanding qualified to vote, get themselves registered,” Igini said.
