Obi urges Nigerians to register, insists voter’s card holds democracy’s strength

Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has called on Nigerians to take the Continuous Voter Registration and Permanent Voter Card collection seriously, describing the PVC as the most powerful tool for building a new Nigeria.

Obi, in a post via his official X handle on Monday, urged eligible voters not to underestimate the power of their PVC, which he described as “the voice of the voiceless, the shield of the weak, and the weapon of the poor against injustice and bad leadership.”

“The future of our dear nation is in your hands. The greatest strength of democracy is in the voter’s card,” Obi said, stressing that Nigerians must organise themselves to make election rigging difficult.

He warned citizens against selling their votes, saying politicians who engage in vote buying do so only to secure access to public funds for looting.

“Those who buy votes are not offering you charity; they only invest in their own corruption. Such people are not leaders, they are criminals in disguise,” he said.

Obi further noted that those who sell their votes mortgage their future, denying themselves and their children access to quality education, healthcare, and job opportunities.

“The power to change this country is in your hands. The looters will only loot when we give them the opportunity. Your vote counts—if it doesn’t, they wouldn’t be desperately buying it,” he added.

He urged Nigerians to vote for leaders with competence, character, capacity, and compassion, warning them not to be deceived or intimidated during the electoral process.

“Our democracy is at stake. That is why I urge every eligible Nigerian to register, collect, and safeguard your PVC, and when the time comes, use it wisely. Let us stand together and prove that Nigeria belongs to the people, not to those who trade our future for selfish gain,” Obi said.

According to him, a “New Nigeria is possible” if citizens take responsibility for the change they desire.

Source: Punch