Executive Director of Springwell Development Initiative, Mrs Feyikemi Fabiyi-Omoniyi, and Lagos Focal Person for Yiaga Africa, Mr Michael Ogunshola, have tasked Lagos youths, especially those in Ojo Local Council, to register and collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

They stated this after a roadshow by Springwell Development Initiative and Yiaga Africa, funded by the National Endowment for Democracy, for residents of the Ojo council area.

Participants, while moving across different communities, including markets in Ojo, distributed flyers and pasted stickers to educate residents about the importance of registering for PVCs and voting on election day.

Fabiyi-Omoniyi said it is important that residents register and collect their PVCs so they can vote, disclosing that the interaction with residents revealed that mostly adults and the aged have registered and collected their PVCs.

According to her, some residents, especially youths, complained that votes were not being counted, but were educated that ballots can only count if they participate, adding that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was taking steps to sanitise the system.

Fabiyi-Omoniyi underscored the importance of residents participating in the electoral process to appropriately demand accountability and good governance from elected officers and political leaders.

According to her, to make the effort sustainable, some community ambassadors were appointed to mobilise residents to register and collect their PVCs, and remind those who have pledged to register to fulfil their commitment.

On his part, Ogunshola said the exercise was a follow-up to an earlier town hall meeting.