Following a declaration by the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, churches in Bauchi and Anambra State observed the ‘PVC Sunday’ on Sunday.
Religion Nigeria reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission had extended the June deadline for the Continuous Voters Registration by 60 days to allow more Nigerians to register and get their Permanent Voter Cards ahead of the 2023 general elections.
Yohanna, in an interview with journalists, said the directive was from the association’s national secretariat for state chapters to observe Sunday, June 26, 2022, as ‘Operation Show Your PVC Sunday’.
The PFN Chairman said, “Today is PVC Sunday all over PFN churches in Bauchi. Our desire is to mobilise our people to exercise their civic rights as citizens of this country because we discovered that many of them feel that they don’t need to vote because their votes will not count.
“So, we are sensitising the people to go out and get their PVCs so that they can vote and usher in a better government in this country.
“I call on Nigerians, especially Christians, to take this responsibility as a civic right so that they can get their PVCs and cast their votes. I call on them to come out because their votes will count with the new technology put out by INEC since results will be transmitted live from the polling units, we believe our votes will count.”
In some of the churches visited, leaders of the churches were seen at the entrance checking members that have their PVCs and allowing them to enter the churches for the day’s worship service.
Although others who did not have were allowed into the churches, they were encouraged to go and get theirs.
Churches visited included Ever Increasing Faith Elim Church, Yelwa; Living Faith Church, Yelwa; Assemblies of God Church, Yelwa; Agape Christian Worship Centre, Angwan Ngas; House on the Rock, Birshin Gandu, The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Wuntin Dada; and Rivers of Life Church, Hospital Road, among others.
A similar situation played out in major cities of Awka, Onitsha, Nnewi, Oba, Obosi, and Ekwulobia in Anambra State where worshippers were reportedly told by clerics to get their PVCs ready before the end of the exercise, as the upcoming 2023 elections will be different from previous ones.
The pastor of Rhema Deliverance Mission in Awka, Dr Amaechi Nwachukwu, on Sunday declared ‘Operation Show your PVC,’ stating that it is now mandatory for all eligible voters to show their PVCs.