Daniel Atori, Minna
Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Niger state chapter, Most Rev. Dr. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna has called on residents of Niger state to come out enmasse to exercise their franchise this coming weekend during the local government council elections.
While advising that voter apathy is not a good sign for the process, the Chairman who is also the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese in a statement made available to newsmen in Minna urged eligible voters who have registered to go get their Permanent Voter’s Card from the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC office.
According to Bishop Yohanna “the 2025 local government elections is around the corner, I want to appeal to those who are yet to collect their PVCs to quickly collect their to avoid unnecessary rush and to regret in the future.”
He therefore called on all Christian faithfuls to participate actively in electoral process adding that “it is your civic right.”
In his words, the Chairman said: “I call on all residents to participate in the November, 1st Chairmanship and Councillorship elections.
“Let it be known that we are the determinants of who leads us at the local and grassroots levels. As Christians, we must participate actively in politics either as members of political parties or as electorates.
“To avoid voter apathy, let us come out and vote in the people of our choice into various offices”.
He those admonished political parties to feed candidates that can provide basic amenities and meet the yearnings of the people.
Furthermore, he called on Bloc leaders both at the State and LGA level, leaders/heads of churches to call on their members not to sit on the fence but to participate actively and to ignore statements like “Votes do not count”.
While calling on security personnel to discharge their duties, he appealed to Nigerlites to conduct themselves peacefully during and after the elections and avoid any acts that will bring about break down of law and order in the state.
Bishop Yohanna also called on the INEC to publish and announce PVCs collection centres to enable those who registered online to pick up their cards.