PVC Collection: CODE holds sensitization for women in Okene »

A leading civil society organization in Nigeria, Connected Development (CODE), have called on women who recently enrolled for their Permanent Voters Cards, to make certain that they collect the card in order to elect credible leaders in the 2023 general election.

INEC commenced PVC distribution on December 12, 2022 and is expected to continue until January 22, 2023.

Speaking in Okene local government area of Kogi state, on Friday during a sensitization program, the Chief Executive Officer of CODE, Hamza Lawal said the program was organized for women in the area in a bid to ensure that a greater number of women participate in the forth coming election as well as resist voter apathy amongst the women folk.

He said women and young people forms a large voting block in today’s political atmosphere that will decide the outcome of the election, hence the sensitization targeted the participation of all women in the forthcoming election who will, first of all, collect their Permanent Voter Cards.

According to the Chief Executive, the role of women in election cannot be neglected as they have the highest voting strength, stressing that massive grass-roots awareness and mobilization of women is needed to boost their confidence in the process and discourage apathy.

While calling on all stakeholders to continue to support INEC in overcoming its challenges.

A stakeholder in the community, Mrs Hauwa Lawal drummed the need for every woman to go and collect her voters card. Although she lamented about some challenges faced by women on the distribution but encouraged the women not to be deterred by the cumbersome collection process. He urged unity amongst women and them to caution their children and relatives against violence.

Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar Karaku, a former Chairman of Okene local government area, commended CODE for the initiative to sensitize the people on the need for peace and PVC collection. He said peace is needed to achieve credible polls, adding that young people must resist the temptation of being used to disrupt the election.