He also observed that the success of the exercise could promote democratic practice in the country, as it is intended to widen the level of participation of the citizenry in future elections.
Governor Dickson stated this, while speaking with newsmen after he and his wife, Rachel, collected their permanent voters’ cards (PVCs), at the Oruere 005 Polling Unit, in his hometown, Toru-Orua, in Sagbama Local Government Area.
Dickson, who expressed satisfaction with the turnout of Bayelsa people for the exercise, however, urged the people especially, those who recently attained the statutory voting age of 18 years, to take the exercise more serious.
Underscoring its impor-tance, he said the state government declared Wednesday a work-free day to enable workers and other people participate freely in the exercise to ensure its success in the state.
Commenting on the challenges of the exercise, as indicated by preliminary reports at his disposal, the governor urged those, who turned up, but were yet to get their permanent voters’ cards not to despair, assuring that relevant government agencies would take appropriate measures to address the shortcomings.
He said: “Today gives opportunity to everyone to participate in the electoral process. As you are aware, I announced a work-free day yesterday to enable workers and members of their families, who have voting right to be part of the process and to ensure that this exercise concludes successfully.
“We take this exercise very seriously and I’m here with my wife to do just that; and I’m satisfied with the preliminary reports and so, I’m aware that a lot of Bayelsa people are turning up en masse, and I hope that they keep doing so to broaden and strengthen our democracy.”
SOURCE..TRIBUNE
http://www.tribune.com.ng/news/news-headlines/item/6579-permanent-voter-cards-ll-strengthen-electoral-system-dickson
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