*BY DAVID UKA*
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ebonyi State, Mrs Mercy Nkwegu says that sustained voter education is critical to addressing voter apathy especially in rural communities.
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Mrs Nkwegu wife of former governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2015 elections stated this in an interview with newsmen in Abakaliki
She said voter education was critical in mobilizing the electorate especially those in rural communities to be able to make informed decisions and also participate actively in the electoral process.
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Mrs Nkwegu who linked the low rate of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) collection in Ebonyi with political apathy emphasized that only sustained voter education will address the problem.
She said that there was need to intensify efforts at mobilizing eligible voters to register and collect their PVCs now that deadline for temporary suspension of registration has drawn closer.
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She emphasized that it was the responsibility of leaders at various levels including political parties, religious and community leaders as well as critical stakeholders to constantly educate the people on the need to participate in the political process.
Mrs Nkwegu whose husband, Chief Edward Nkwegu is an APC governorship aspirant in the 2019 governorship election said that women leaders in the party had been enjoined to embark on mass sensitisation and mobilisation of rural women ahead of 2019 election.
“Women leaders in APC have been urged to move into their various wards to educate, sensitise and mobilise grassroots women to actively participate in the 2019 general elections in Ebonyi.
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“The low rate of PVCs collection in the state is worrisome and there is every need to take a bold and pragmatic steps to mobilize Ebonyi electorate especially those in the rural areas to go and collect their PVCs.
“It is only the PVC that qualifies a person to participate in choosing their elected leaders, ” Nkwegu said.
She commended the wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari for standing by Nigerian women and for giving women the opportunity to show case their leadership potentials.
” We are encouraged to do what we are doing in politics as women because the Nigeria’s first lady, Mrs Buhari has encouraged us to show case the leadership qualities in us.
“As APC women we are encouraging our fellow women to actively participate in politics and we are going into the rural communities to educate, sensitize and mobilize them to be part of the political process, ” She added.
She called on women especially mothers to monitor the activities of their children and guard them from being used as political thugs by desperate politicians in 2019 elections.
She also advised women not to sell or exchange their PVCs for any price and to ensure that they voted in large numbers during the elections.
