The European Union has urged Nigerians to go out en masse to vote for the candidates of their choice during the February and March general elections to exercise their franchise.
This is even as the union urged Nigerians not to sell their votes during the elections.
Speaking during a sensitisation rally in Wuse market during the weekend, entitled: “The 2000-Strong National Women, Youth and Persons with Disability Walk for Peace and Massive Turnout Ahead of 2019 General Elections” the governance advisor, European Centre for Electoral Support (ECEC) Dominique Weerts, said election day should be a day of joy not chaos.
According to him, we are promoting inclusive democracy and that is why we are here to urge Nigerians to vote for the candidates of their choice.
“One of the things we are emphasising toward the 2019 election is encouraging Nigerians to come out to get their PVC and vote peacefully.
“We are insisting that all the people have to go out and vote because it is their right for this 2019. Election day should be the happy day not a violence day.
“It is the right of every Nigerians to vote and they should shun all manner of violence,” he said.
The rally was organised by Preventing Election Violence and Education for Inclusion in Nigeria in collaboration with ECES, Embassy of Germany in Nigeria, INEC, Nigeria Women Trust Fund, Joint National Association of People Leaving with Disability and Market Women.
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Some of the inscriptions on the placards by the groups include: “Shun Electoral Violence, Don’t Sell Your Vote, My Vote Count, Vote Na Your Power” Your Vote, Your Right” Go Make Vote Count” No Waste Your Vote.”
On her part the deputy director, Voter Education Department, INEC, Lakunuya Dorothy-Bello, assured Nigerians that their votes would count.
She also urged Nigerians pick up their permanent voters card (PVC).
She said: “Go out and pick up your PVC if you have registered and you have not picked up your PVC.
“They are ready now, go out and pick your PVC because without PVC you cannot vote and I want to assure you that your votes will count.”
The national leader, National Association of Women Traders, Mrs. Ruth Agbor, said the groups are changing the narrative and creating awareness that votes counts.
“Your PVC is your right and we must vote right by not selling our votes because if we sell our vote you sell your future, you sell your children future.
“This is a peace rally and we are trying to sensitize the market people where we have more populations gathered together to say that this is an election time and everybody should use their power which is the PVC wisely.
“We are changing the narrative and creating awareness that our PVC is our right and we must vote right not selling our votes because if we sell our vote you sell your future, you sell your children future and we cannot vote for a bag of garri or rice. So, we want to do it right this time around.”
“We also need to vote in a peaceful atmosphere. It is not about going to fight, it is about going there to cast your vote , protect your vote Monitor your vote and ensure your vote counts,” she said.
