Stakeholders have rallied the support of Ikeja residents and beyond in Lagos State on voter registration and the collection of Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) to deepen Nigeria’ democracy.
The stakeholders made the call at a Civil Literacy Town Hall Workshop held on Thursday at Ikeja Local Government Area in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the workshop was: Youth Power, Our Voice: “Enhancing Civil Literacy and Voter Participation in Lagos State.”
Speaking on the sidelines of the event, the Executive Director of Springwell Development Initiative, Mrs Feyikemi Fabiyi-Omoniyi, urged residents of Ikeja to register and collect their PVCs.
Fabiyi-Omoniyi said the initiative was designed to increase voter participation by educating grassroots communities on the importance of voter registration and PVC collection.
“We want change in Nigeria. We want to see good governance, accountability and transparency,” she said.
Fabiyi-Omoniyi added that encouraging more citizens to register and vote would help strengthen democratic ideals and improve governance.
She said the project was being implemented by Springwell Development Initiative with support from Yiaga Africa and funding from the National Endowment for Democracy.
According to her, the programme focuses on three local governments in Lagos State: Ikeja, Ojo and Ifako-Ijaiye.
Fabiyi-Omoniyi said activities under the project include civic education and grassroots mobilisation to encourage eligible voters to participate in elections.
Also speaking, Mr Michael Ogunsola, Lagos Focal Person for Yiaga Africa, urged residents to obtain their PVCs to enable them vote in the 2027 elections.
“There is no way you can vote without having your PVC,” Ogunsola said.
He encouraged youths to participate actively in the electoral process to influence positive change in the country.
Ogunsola said the advocacy was a national initiative focused on promoting civic responsibility and strengthening citizens’ participation in elections.
According to him, the initiative is not sponsored by politicians or political parties but seeks to empower communities to take ownership of the electoral process.
He noted that town hall meetings held in government spaces, including Ikeja Local Government, help to bring stakeholders together for civic engagement.
Also speaking, Alhaja Adefolami Taibat, the first female Community Development Council Chairperson in Ikeja Local Government, said community leaders were mobilising residents across Community Development Associations.
Taibat said the mobilisation targeted youths from the age of 18 to encourage them to register and participate in the electoral process.
She added that community leaders were working together to ensure eligible residents obtain their PVCs and vote during elections.
