CALABAR—Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State has said the possession of a voter’s card by every Nigerian above 18 years was the only way the much talked about change can be achieved in the country.

Speaking while flagging off the two-week voter registration exercise organized by Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, at Government Primary School, Itigidi Abi Local Government Area of the state, Imoke urged Nigerians to come out and register if they want democracy, stressing that the exercise was free of charge and gives one the power to vote for the candidate of his choice.

According to Imoke, the card also gives its owner the right and power to elect people into various political offices and it is also an entitlement to bring about the change, which the people want, adding that it was imperative that traditional rulers, Community Development Associations, clergy and youth groups  call on the people to come out and register. He urged Cross Riverians not to give an excuse of going to the farm and market for not participating during the elections in April.

Imoke, explained that President Goodluck Jonathan wants “One Man, One Vote” and as such does not want any man to hijack ballot box as a law has been put in place to handle that. He advised  voters to wait after casting their votes until the results were released so that they can know the winners. He also charged the people to guard against multiple thumb printing.

On the registration procedures, the Governor noted that though the exercise was complex, it will lead to  credible elections in the country.

He said, the state will not declare a public holiday during the exercise rather it will mount an advocacy programme to sensitize the people irrespective of their locations because there is need to get the people informed and involved from day one of the exercise rather than wait till the last day.

The Governor remarked that with the arrival of the Direct Data Capture machines at  various centres, logistics are being put in place to enhance a smooth exercise in the State while challenges identified in due course will be addressed, adding that the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) is up to task of addressing noticeable hitches.

Mrs. Obioma Liyel Imoke, wife of the State Governor, described the exercise as a part of Women for Change Initiative programme of Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan which means every woman of voting age should register to enable her make her choice rather than stay behind, explaining that it is an important civic responsibility and as such they should not allow any one take their votes.

Mrs. Imoke urged the women to extend the call to their folk because a card does not belong to any other person except its owners.
Mr. Patrick Ugbe, Commissioner for Information and Orientation, said the mass media will reach out to the populace through a massive sensitization programme while a team has been inaugurated to visit every nook of the State, explaining that the team has been broken down into groups to make its assignment easier.