By our reporter
To promote civic participation and increase voter registration across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the University of Calabar Graduates Elite Club (UCGEC), in collaboration with Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA)’s Area Councils Services Secretariat (ACSS) and Abuja Market Management, has kicked off a public sensitization campaign on the crucial responsibility.
At the core of the campaign is the imperative for residents to register and obtain Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) so as to participate in the 2027 general elections and other relevant polling activities.
Speaking to journalists during the sensitization exercise in Abuja, President of UCGEC, Dr. Chioma Uzo-Udegbunam, said the initiative was designed to enlighten buyers, sellers, stakeholders, and other members of the public on their civic rights and responsibilities as citizens.
According to her, the campaign became necessary following the numerous inquiries she received concerning the ongoing voter registration exercise, including questions about registration timelines, extension periods, and the procedures citizens need to follow.
“The University of Calabar Graduates Elite Club members are here to sensitize buyers, sellers, stakeholders, and everyone within the market environment on the need to register and own a voter’s card because it is their fundamental right as citizens,” she explained.
Dr. Uzo-Udegbunam added that sensitization and awareness campaigns on issues affecting the populace are part of the club’s objectives and are also enshrined directly in its constitution.
She stressed that the growing concerns and requests for information from members of the public highlighted the need for wider awareness, prompting the club to take the sensitization campaign directly to residents in their comfort zones even as the extension ends in few days’ time.
“I get so many questions regarding the extension duration of the voter registration exercise and what citizens ought to do. It became necessary to extend this information to others who may not have access to it,” she said.
The president noted that the partnership involving the club, ACSS, and Abuja Market Management was established to bridge the information gap and ensure that residents receive accurate guidance on the voter registration process.
“We are here to see how we can close the information gap and pass the necessary information to the people. Our choice of the market for this sensitization exercise is strategic because it allows us to reach a large number of people at once,” she explained.
According to her, markets remain one of the most effective locations for public enlightenment campaigns due to the high concentration of residents who engage in commercial activities daily.
Dr. Uzo-Udegbunam disclosed that the exercise would cover major markets within the FCT, including Garki Model Market, Garki International Market, and Wuse Market.
She emphasized that voter registration and participation in elections are constitutional rights that every eligible Nigerian should exercise.
“We want residents to know that it is their right to register, own a Permanent Voter Card, and vote during elections. Active participation in the electoral process is critical to strengthening democracy and ensuring good governance,” she stressed.
The UCGEC president also appealed to residents who may not be reached directly through the market sensitization exercise not to be discouraged from participating in the voter registration process.
Addressing FCT residents, she urged all eligible citizens to take personal responsibility for obtaining their PVCs and contributing to the democratic process.
“To the residents we may not be able to reach physically, we appeal that they should not be deterred. It is your civic responsibility to register, obtain your voter’s card, and exercise your right to vote. Together, we can get it right,” she said.
The sensitization campaign is expected to continue across selected markets and communities within FCT as stakeholders intensify efforts to encourage greater voter participation ahead of future electoral activities.
*PHOTO CAPTION: Some members of the sensitization team.
