Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, has called on Nigerians to take voter registration and collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) seriously, describing the PVC as the strongest weapon against corruption, bad governance, and poverty.
In a statement on Sunday, Obi appealed to citizens to see the PVC as “the bridge to a new Nigeria,” stressing that it represents the voice of the voiceless and the shield of the weak. He urged Nigerians to get organised and make election rigging difficult by ensuring that they register, collect, and safeguard their voter cards.
Obi warned against vote buying, insisting that politicians who engage in the practice are “not offering charity” but only investing in corruption for personal gain. He argued that such leaders divert resources meant for education, healthcare, and job creation, likening them to “criminals in disguise.”
He further cautioned Nigerians against selling their votes, noting that doing so amounts to selling opportunities for better schools, hospitals, and jobs. According to him, “those who buy your vote are only buying it to make a profit from the seat of power, not to serve you.”
The former Anambra State governor emphasised that the power to change the country rests with the people, warning that looters thrive only when citizens enable them. He urged voters to resist intimidation, deceit, and inducement, and instead choose leaders with competence, character, capacity, and compassion.
“Our democracy is at stake,” Obi said. “Every Nigerian must rise and take responsibility for building the nation we dream of. Register to vote, because a new Nigeria starts with you.”
