The Southwest Zone D of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has urged all students in higher institutions in the zone to take advantage of the ongoing Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) to register for Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
Mr. Emmanuel Adegboye, NANS’ Southwest coordinator, made the announcement during a press conference in Ibadan on Wednesday.
Adegboye stated that it was critical to remind the zone’s over seven million Nigerian students of the importance of “registering for and obtaining PVC.”
Obtaining a voter’s card, he claims, will allow students to fulfill their civic responsibility of voting in general elections in 2023.
“It’s past time for NANS to move beyond activism and use our resources to actively participate in the selection of candidates for political office.”
“Nigerian students must play a civic role in nation-building, including having a say in who will be the country’s president and other electoral positions,” he said.
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The NANS coordinator also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to make it easier for PVCs to be captured across campuses.
He claimed that bringing capturing centers closer to students would encourage them to register in large numbers while also easing the burden on the existing capturing centers.
He also urged the governors of the southwest states to re-energize their state electoral commissions and assist INEC in voter education and sensitization.
The facilitation of social reawakening, mindset re-engineering, and re-orientation, particularly in relation to Nigeria’s socio-economic systems and political landscape, was a major target for NANS executive, according to Adegboye.
John Alao, Southwest deputy coordinator, and Quadri Adeleke, NANS chairman in Oyo State, were also present at the press conference.
The press conference was also attended by Elijah Awoyinfa, Southwest Public Relations Officer; Teslim Bakare, Joint Campus Council PRO; and Ebenezer Olajide.
