Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has called on eligible voters in the South-East to register and obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), describing the exercise as crucial for strengthening political participation in the region.
The group made the appeal following a meeting of its National Executive Council presided over by its leader, Uchenna Madu.
In a statement issued by its National Director of Information, Edeson Samuel, MASSOB urged eligible citizens to take advantage of the ongoing voter registration exercise by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to secure their PVCs.
According to the group, broader participation in the voter registration process would enable people of the South-East to play a more active role in the country’s democratic processes.
The statement noted that voter apathy over the years has limited the political influence of the region, urging eligible persons to regard the PVC as an important civic tool for exercising their democratic rights.
MASSOB further argued that voter registration helps to capture population strength within the country’s electoral and demographic structure, which it said could become significant in future political engagements.
The group also called on the electoral commission to ensure transparency and credibility in the voter registration process.
It alleged that irregularities occurred in some past exercises and urged the commission to strengthen monitoring mechanisms to guarantee fairness in the ongoing exercise.
MASSOB reiterated its commitment to non-violent advocacy in pursuit of its objectives, stating that its activities remain guided by international legal frameworks such as the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
The group therefore urged eligible voters in the region to participate fully in the voter registration exercise as part of their civic responsibility.
