Good Leaders Don’t Just Happen , Obtain Your PVCs to Vote – Anambra Ohanaeze
A cross section of people waiting to register to obtain PVCs in Anambra State
By our correspondent
The President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Anambra State Chapter, Mazi Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu, on Wednesday called on residents of the state to take full advantage of the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and ensure active participation in the upcoming November 8, 2025 governorship election.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had, on Monday, July 8, commenced the CVR exercise across the 326 wards in Anambra State, with a central registration point at the INEC headquarters in Awka.
The CVR provides an opportunity for newly eligible voters and those who recently turned 18 as well as for those seeking to transfer their voter information, replace lost or damaged cards, or correct inaccuracies in their biodata.
While new registrants are required to present themselves physically at designated INEC centers, data corrections and transfers can be completed online.
Reflecting on the dismal voter turnout in the 2021 gubernatorial election, which brought Governor Chukwuma Soludo to power, Okpalaezeukwu expressed concern over the state’s persistent voter apathy.
According to INEC, only about 250,000 of the more than 2.5 million registered voters in Anambra participated in that election,a turnout of just 10 percent.
Speaking after monitoring the CVR exercise at his native Nando, covering Wards 1, 2, and 3, the Ohanaeze leader said the low participation was deeply troubling, especially given the high level of political awareness among Ndi Anambra.
“The CVR is more than a routine exercise; it is a civic call to duty. The last governorship election exposed an embarrassing contradiction: a politically conscious population that is absent at the ballot box,” Okpalaezeukwu stated.
He said that voter registration is the critical first step toward strengthening democratic participation and ensuring that citizens have a say in one who governs them.
He warned that continued apathy could weaken Anambra’s political influence and diminish the quality of governance in the state.
“The statistics from the last election should alarm every well-meaning citizen. It is not just about numbers; it speaks volumes about how we are perceived in Nigeria’s political equation.“If Ndi Anambra and Ndigbo at large fail to demonstrate electoral seriousness, we will remain politically marginal. The country takes seriously only those who take the ballot seriously.”he said.
Okpalaezeukwu further asserted that good leadership does not emerge by wishful thinking but through deliberate civic engagement.
“The kind of leadership we desire will remain a mirage if we do not back it with action. Our votes are our voice. Without them, we surrender that voice to others.”he added.
To that end, the Anambra chapter of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, he revealed, has activated its grassroots structures at the local government level to galvanize participation in the CVR.
The apex Igbo socio-cultural group has also intensified media advocacy campaigns, urging eligible voters to take the registration process seriously.
“The voter card is not just a plastic ID; it is the gateway to shaping the future of our state and Nigeria at large,” he stressed.“I urge all Ndi Anambra to register, collect their cards, and be ready to answer the call when election day arrives.” he stated.
