Women Group in Ebonyi, 'Obi/Edon Women Support Group' on Saturday, alarted the Federal Government and the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC over an alleged desperate move by some political agents in the state to discrdit the 2023 election through buying of permanent Voter's Cards Pvcs from unsuspecting and uninformed public.
In a sensitization program organized for the leaders of the women, drawn from the 13 Local Government Area and 171 electoral wards in the state, while giving account of activities in their various Communities and wards, alleged that the agents of the ruling party in state are all over the remote villages collecting the Voter's Identification numbers VIN of the permanent Voter's Cards in exchange for money.
Addressing the women during the sensitization program,Lady Mary Nkwegu, Wife of Ebonyi Labour Party Gubernatorial Candidate, enjioned the women to resist the negative antics of desperate politicians and stand for peace, Unity and development of the state, which the labour party Gubernatorial Candidate, Architect Edward Nkwegu represents.
Lady Nkwegu described the women as the frontline women group who have the future of Nigeria and Ebonyi State at heart - standing for Obi-Dient as the ardent supporters of Peter Obi and his running mate, Ahmed Datti with her husband - Arc Edward Nkwegu popularly known as Edon and all other candidates of the Labour Party in the state.
She noted that the women came to show their solidarity and support for her "as the wife of the incoming governor of Ebonyi State come 2023."
Lady Nkwegu said, "these women have shown me their sincere support. They are also to report what is happening in their different localities.
"The women told me the other party - the APC members to be precise are collecting their permanent voter cards, coping their pins so that they will destabilize them from voting come 2023 general elections.
"So, they are here to plead with the Federal Government of Nigeria to come to their rescue. They are also here to plead with the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Yakubu Mahmood to come to their rescue. They are collecting their voter cards, and once they collect and copy their Voter Identification Numbers, VINs, the electorate will not be able to vote.
"That's why we are here now to sensitize them whenever they come, tell them that they don't want to sell their votes. That their votes are what they will use to liberate their children and unborn children. It's because once they collect the pin from the voter card, they can't use the card again, as it becomes automatically an invalid voter card."
She stressed: "And for the fact, they have noticed that rigging is not possible in 2023, they decided to make sure they collect what machine will capture on the election day.
"We are asking the INEC Chairman to please know what to do because they have almost copied the pin of the permanent voter cards in Ebonyi State, thinking that since they can't carry ballot boxes or rig the election at the different polling booths, this is the easiest way they can go to various villages and confuse the masses. The obvious party copying these Voter Identification Cards is the APC. It's the APC."
She advised the electorate to "be mindful of those coming to their different homes because they are going to house to collect their voter cards. They are not just collecting their voter cards, they will promise them that they will give them money, copy their phone numbers, snap their PVCs' VINs or copy them, and once they copy them, you can't vote that day of the election.
"I'm advising the public to hold themselves, and please don't sell their right, because the voter card is your right and power to use decide who will lead you at the polls come 2023."
She urged the electorate especially Ebonyi citizens to be wary of the alleged deceptive approach adopted by some political actors especially the APC in the state just to induce them with money to vote for bad leaders in upcoming general elections.
"The deceptive approach adopted by the APC now is obvious because its members already know that they are going to fail in the 2023 elections, first in our state. APC is in the control of government today, the party is holding our money, and occupying our seats of power and offices.
"If you want to kill a snake, the moment you hit stick on its head, it will be rolling up and down, side by side and rolling round till it will die. If APC has confidence in winning the election, their members would have not been going from house to house to collect their voter cards. This has shown that the APC is going to fail in the 2023 elections because their members are aware rigging is not possible at the polling units.
"No one will carry ballot boxes. In 2015 and 2019, they used their political thugs to carry the ballot booths, but in 2023, no more carrying of the ballot boxes. That's why the members of the APC went for a meeting and decided that the only option they have is to come and collect your voter cards with money. Anybody that gives them his or her voter card has sold his or her right.
"Why is it that the APC has not been giving you money since? It is because Nigeria has decided to redesign Naira notes. The money APC wants to give you is a counterfeit - It's bloody cash because the money can't be used and bought anything in the market from next month. They are aware if they bring the money to deposit in the bank, they will be arrested and handed over to EFCC. They checked ways to use the money, they decided to come and collect the most expensive asset (PVC) you can use and train your children. That's why they came to induce you with money for you to give them your PVC VINs.
"I'm talking with experience because I have been in the INEC as a staff. That's why I'm telling you to go to your village to tell your people to avoid selling their voter cards because the moment you give them your PVC pin, on the day of the election you won't vote. After all, it has become an invalid voter card."
Lady Nkwegu flanked and supported by the wives of the candidates of the Labour Party in the state including Anthonia Nwuruku represented by Nnenna Eze - Wife of LP Candidates of Ebonyi Central Senatorial District, and her counterparts of Ebonyi North Senatorial zone - Onyinye Enigwe, with Mrs Obinna Chinelo - Wife of LP Candidate for Izzi West State Constituency; Victoria Nwome - Wife of LP Candidate for Abakaliki-South State Constituency, Nwada Chibueze Kelechi - Ohaukwu North State Constituency, Osulor Chidimma - Ezza North East State Constituency, Nwele Chikamso - Ebonyi North West State Constituency, Jacinta Nwite representing wife of Mrs Peter Nwali, among others expressed optimism about the landslide victory of Peter Obi and their husbands at the 2023 polls.
Other speakers including Ann Okoro representing Police wives in Ebonyi alongside Ozioma Nweke, Ngozi Ajah, Elder Patience Edeh, Chinyere Okpo, Agatha Eze Ogo, among other women from different local government areas of the state and Ubaida Abubakar who represented the Hausa Community decried the high level of poverty, taxation, moneybag politics, attacks and intimidation of the members of the opposition parties by the alleged ruling APC in the state.
Post a Comment