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With the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) ending on Friday, August 17, 2018, Delta State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) called on all eligible and qualified Deltans who are yet to register to quickly go to the nearest Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) registration centre close to them to register and collect their Permanent Voters Card (PVC) in readiness for the 2019 general elections.

The party made the call in a statement by its State Publicity State Publicity Secretary, Dr. Ifeanyi Michael Osuoza, who urged Deltans to take advantage of the work free days of Thursday, August 16 and Friday, August 17, 2018 declared by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa by going to register and collect their PVCs.

While noting that the PVC is their power and key to participate in the 2019 general elections and vote for the candidate and political parties of their choice, to represent them in the coming dispensation, the statement stated: “We cannot over-emphasize the critical importance of the PVC to all Deltans who are eligible to vote in the 2019 general elections and that is why we are indeed very grateful to His Excellency, Senator, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, the Executive Governor of Delta State, for declaring Thursday August 16 and Friday August 17 as work-free days to enable Deltans go and Register and collect their PVCs,” the PDP stated.

It pointed out that by that act the Governor has “once again demonstrated his unquestionable democratic credentials and his unshakable belief in promoting and enhancing the processes that will sustain and deepen our democracy in Nigeria and Delta State.”

The statement reads: “We want to appeal to all eligible Deltans who are yet to Register to embrace this wonderful opportunity offered by the State government wholeheartedly and visit the nearest INEC designated Registration centre close to them to Register and collect their PVCs.

“As a responsible political party whose core mandate is to deliver the dividends of Democracy to the electorate, we have always sounded it loud and clear and stated categorically, in line with democratic best practices, as espoused by our party leader, His Excellency, Senator, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, the Executive Governor of Delta State, that power belongs to the people. This is the reason we are now calling on Deltans to see the declaration of these work free days as an important commitment to empower the people in recognition of their fundamental rights to exercise the choice of choosing their representatives during elections.

“We are therefore mandating all our party leaders from the Wards to Local Governments and State levels to sensitize, enlighten and encourage Deltans in their communities and constituencies and Senatorial zones to come out in their numbers during these work-free days, to participate in this continuous voter registration exercise, which ends on Friday, August 17, at 5 pm. We are also calling on all serious aspirants under the umbrella of the PDP, who intend to seek for the votes of the people in the forthcoming elections, to explore practical and legitimate avenues through which they can assist and support their constituents who are yet to register, to use these work-free days to do so and collect their PVCs.

“It is also important to seek the assistance of the traditional institutions in our grassroots to embrace the social responsibility of encouraging their subjects to go out to the nearest INEC Registration Centres in their domains to register and collect their PVCs during these work-free days of Thursday 16 and Friday 17, August 2018.

“The electoral law has made it very clear that it is only Registered voters with Permanent Voters Cards, PVCs that will participate in the 2019 general elections. The importance of the PVC as the right and power of every Deltan who is eligible to vote cannot be overemphasized. Your PVC is your authority to vote for the candidates of your choice and the key to open the doors to good governance and the continuous delivery of more prosperity and the dividends of democracy to all Deltans.”