By Julian Osamoto
Pamia Africa, an advocacy group, has urged young Nigerians to complete their Permanent Voter Card (PVC) registration ahead of future elections, stressing that online pre-registration alone does not qualify anyone to vote without completing biometric capture by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The group who delivered the message during a voter education and mobilisation outreach for National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members in Abuja, under its Art4Civic initiative, described young people as critical stakeholders in Nigeria’s democratic process.
Speaking at the engagement, the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Pamia Africa, Peter Monday, said many eligible Nigerians mistakenly believe that completing the online registration process automatically qualifies them for a PVC.
He explained that prospective voters must create an account on the INEC registration portal, complete the required personal information, download their registration slip and visit an INEC registration centre for biometric capturing before the commission can complete their registration.
Explaining the registration process, Monday warned participants against paying anyone to facilitate the registration process, stressing that voter registration is free nationwide.
He also cautioned against multiple registrations, noting that the law prohibits anyone from registering on behalf of another person.
According to him, only Nigerian citizens aged 18 years and above who have never registered for a Permanent Voter Card qualify for fresh registration.
He explained that applicants must reside, work or originate from the Local Government Area where they intend to register and must not face any legal disqualification under Nigerian law.
Also speaking, the NYSC Wuse Zonal Inspector, Siga Kaluri, urged volunteers to demonstrate professionalism, respect and political neutrality while engaging members of the public.
He advised the Corps Members to avoid political arguments, refrain from endorsing political parties or candidates and focus strictly on voter education throughout the mobilisation exercise.
Kaluri said volunteers strengthen public confidence in voter education campaigns when they treat everyone with dignity, respect differing opinions and remain impartial.
The outreach aimed to educate, engage and mobilise young Nigerians on voter registration while guiding eligible participants through every stage of the registration process.
During the interactive session, corps member Mary Wafari sought clarification on how to complete her online pre-registration before proceeding to an INEC registration centre for biometric capture.
The organisers said the outreach would reach more than 123 corps members across various NYSC centres, with the broader goal of increasing youth participation in Nigeria’s electoral process through voter education and voter registration.
The outreach was organised under the Art4Civic – LeadUp GenZ project, implemented by Pamia Africa in partnership with Freeze Creative Space.
