BY AGNES NWORIE, ABAKALIKI
In preparation for the 2023 general elections in Nigeria, the Nigerian Girls Guide Association, in collaborations with the United Nations Women and Swedish International Development Agency, has flagged off sensitization campaigns for continuous voters registration exercise for young women between ages 18 and 40 in Ebonyi State.
During the ceremony in Abakaliki recently, the Commissioner, Girls Guide Association, Edith Abba-Njoku, stated that they were poised to ensuring that no woman was disenfranchised in the election hence, the massive sensitization campaign in six states of the federation, starting from Ebonyi.
Njoku urged the women in the state to secure their voters cards as the power with which they could either vote out bad government or retain good ones.
“Today is the flag off of sensitization campaign by the Nigeria Girls Guide, the UN Women and Swedish International Development Agency on continuous voters registration exercise in Ebonyi State. Our targets are young women between ages 18 and 40. We want them to come out and register and get their voters cards.
Those who relocated, maybe because of marriage, should come for transfer. Those who lost the cards should come so that we can ensure that no woman of voting age is disenfranchised in Ebonyi come 2023.
“We are inviting all girls and young women in the six local government areas of the state; Ohaozara, Ohaukwu, Afikpo North, Afikpo South, Ishielu and Abakaliki local government areas for the first batch. The aim is to reach out to those in the hinterlands and ensure that they get their voters cards ready for 2023. We are reaching out as the United Nations women provided us with laptops and printers to achieve the aim. We noticed that some of them don’t get the voters cards to exercise their civic rights. Some of them don’t have access to internet and email which are requirements for the online registration by INEC.
“So, we are taking it to them in rural areas to reduce the stress. When we are done, they will now go to INEC office just for biometrics. It’s a continuous process. After this set, we shall move to other local government councils. We looked into our communities and noticed that some women are always in the house, not ready to go into active politics, doing home chores, so we are trying to educate them to know that it is their right to vote and be voted for.”
