Members of the Grassroot Development Initiative (GDI) has taken the ongoing Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVC) sensitisation programme to Ahoada West Local Government Area, with a call on the eligible voters in the communities to get their PVCs and participate actively in the forthcoming 2023 elections.
The PVC sensitisation programme took place at Akinima Community Primary School Field, headquarters of Ahoada West Local Government Area.
Addressing the mammoth crowd that converged on the school field for the programme, Rivers State Chairman of PDP, Amb Desmond Akawor, congratulated members of Grassroot Development Initiative for the good work they were doing in sanitising and mobilising the people of the state for the ongoing Continuous Permanent Voter’s Card registration exercise.
The state PDP chairman, who said he was very impressed with the large turnout of GDI members and Ahoada West residents for the event, expressed optimism that the trend would be sustained by other local governments.
Akawor, who is also the chairman of IPAC in the state, observed that as chairman of the group, he can confidently say that no other NGO was doing what GDI was doing in the state in terms of mobilisation, and urged them to keep up the tempo.
In her remarks, the PDP Deputy Governorship Candidate, Prof Ngozi Ordu, who represented the Governorship candidate, Siminialayi Fubara, reiterated the fact that the programme was not for political campaign but to sensitise the people of Ahoada West on the importance of the Permanent Voters’Cards (PVC).
Ordu while explaining that the PVC was the only weapon through which one can express his or her voting power, advised them to jealously guard and keep their PVC safe.
The professor, who spoke in Pidgin English, told the crowd of GDI members and supporters to take the message of PVC registration to their houses, children and friends, noted that the more the number of people who registered and obtained their PVC the more political power they would have.
She also advised those who do not have their PVC to ensure they register and collect theirs.
The event attracted a number of very important personalities, including the state PDP Chairman, Amb Desmond Akawor; PDP Deputy Governorship candidate, Prof Ngozi Ordu who represented the governorship candidate, Siminialayi Fubara; chairmen of Ahoada East, Ikwerre, and Etche local government areas as well as the host, Hon Hope Ikiriko.
Others were Deputy Speaker, Rivers state House of Assembly, Hon Edison Ehie; member, House of Assembly representing Ahoada West Constituency, Hon Wanaka Okpokiri; former Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Stephen Ezekwem; former commissioner for youths, Princewill Ogbubula; PDP executive led by the state Secretary, Dr Benibo George; among other political stakeholders, GDI supporters, students, men, women and youth groups.
