Voter Registration: Yangtu SDA Coordinator Leads Sensitization Campaigns
By Lynn Adda
The ongoing nationwide registration for the issuance of permanent voters cards by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC is gaining grounds in most council areas of Taraba State.
The Taraba State Governor, Dr Agbu Kefas has directed all the Chairmen of the 16 Local Government Areas of the state and Coordinators of Yangtu and Ngada Special Development Areas to sensitize and mobilise their communities to actively participate in the ongoing voter registration exercise preparatory to the forthcoming elections.
It is inline with this directive that the newly appointed Coordinator of the Yangtu Special Development Area, Hon Rimanscap Joel led other critical stakeholders to the area to create adequate awareness on the importance of the permanent voters cards, PVC to the socio- political development of the state and the nation in general.
The Coordinator and his entourage were warmly received by a mammoth crowd at the Jenuwa Gida junction.
From Jenuwa Gida, the team proceeded to the palace of the Ukwe Kwambai, His Royal Highness, Emmanuel Ikoti to receive the fatherly blessings, inform him of the purpose of the visit and to seek for his support to ensure massive turn out of the people of the area for the exercise.
Responding, Mr Emmanuel Ikoti welcomed the team, pledging his full support to the ongoing registration exercise.
He explained that one of his Village Heads has confessed that there is a settlement in the area where nobody has ever participated in the voter registration exercise.
According to him, this will be a great opportunity for members of such communities to obtain the permanent voters cards to enable them to exercise their franchise in the next elections.
He expressed optimism that the exercise will be of immense benefits to the people of Yangtu Special Development Area.
From the palace of the Ukwe Kwambai, the Coordinator and other stakeholders proceeded to the Yangtu Special Development Area Conference Hall for the sensitization and awareness campaign on the permanent voters cards registration exercise.
Addressing the gathering, Hon Rimanscap Joel thanked God and the Taraba State Governor Dr Agbu Kefas for finding him worthy to be appointed as the Coordinator of the Development Area.
Hon Rimamscap Joel
He promised to reciprocate the gesture through absolute commitment and dedication to his mandate and service to the people of the area.
He encouraged the stakeholders to be attentive to the presentation of the officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC to place them in a better position to mobilise their communities to come out en masse to obtain the permanent voters cards.
Hon Rimanscap Joel used the forum to call on the people of Yangtu Special Development Area to be supportive of the Governor Agbu Kefas administration and the authority of the Special Development Area to restore permanent peace to the communities.
In a remark, the INEC official said the exercise is aimed at addressing issues relating to lost PVCs, unreadable PVCs and those seeking for transfers among others.
In her speech, the Taraba State Commissioner for Social Justice and Integration, Dr Filister Musa, implore the people of Ussa Local Government Area and Yangtu Special Development Area to aggressively register and obtain their PVCs, stressing that with a robust voter register, they can amplify their demands, hold leaders accountable and attract development to the area.
Dr Filister Musa
She therefore called on religious and community leaders, women and youth groups to join the awareness campaign for people to turn out in large numbers to register.
There were also goodwill messages from the two third class chiefs of Kwambai and Bika, Ukwe Emmanuel Ikoti and Ukwe Joshua Samari.
They commended Governor Agbu Kefas for appointing Hon Rimanscap Joel to come and serve his father land, pledging to provide the necessary support and cooperation to enable him succeed.
They however, use the forum to appeal to the Governor and the relevant agencies to come to the aid of the area by providing Internet services to enhance mass communication.
The event, which featured questions and answers on the exercise, was also attended by the present and outgoing leadership of the Special Development Area, traditional rulers and security personnel among others.
