The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), through the Area Councils Services Secretariat, in collaboration with the University of Calabar Graduates Elite Club and the Abuja Markets Management Agency (AMMA), has launched a voter sensitisation campaign across major markets in Abuja to boost voter registration, PVC collection and civic participation.
The exercise, which took place at Garki Main Market, Garki International Market and Wuse Market, was designed to educate traders and residents on the importance of participating in the electoral process ahead of future elections.
The campaign also aimed to address gaps in public knowledge about voter registration procedures and Permanent Voter Card (PVC) replacement processes.
Speaking during the outreach, president of the University of Calabar Graduates Elite Club, Dr. Uzo-Udegbunam Chioma, said the initiative was driven by widespread ignorance among residents about ongoing voter registration activities.
According to her, many residents were unaware that registration was ongoing, while others lacked clarity on how to replace lost or missing PVCs.
“We discovered that a large number of people are unaware that voter registration is ongoing. Some do not know where to register, while others whose PVCs are missing are unsure of the steps required to replace them. This information gap informed our decision to take the message directly to the people,” she said.
Chioma, who is also a senior official of the FCTA, said the markets were strategically chosen because of their large concentration of residents and daily human traffic.
She disclosed that over 1,000 voter education flyers were distributed during the exercise, noting that the response from traders exceeded expectations.
“We initially considered working through community leaders, but we realised that the markets would provide a wider reach. The response has been overwhelming, which shows that people are eager to participate once they have the right information,” she added.
She stressed that the campaign would be sustained across communities in the FCT and called for stronger collaboration with the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to enhance civic enlightenment.
Chioma also urged residents to seek accurate information from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and take advantage of voter registration opportunities.
“There is still a lot of work to be done. We encourage residents to seek accurate information from INEC offices and take advantage of the opportunity to register and obtain their voter cards,” she said.
She further encouraged citizens not to lose faith in the democratic process, describing voting as a key civic responsibility necessary for national development.
“Citizens should not be discouraged. Every eligible Nigerian should ensure they are registered and possess a valid PVC. Through active participation, we can contribute to building a better society,” she stated.
Also speaking, chairman of Garki International Market, Mr Onyawan Chukwu, commended the initiative, describing it as timely and impactful in strengthening democratic participation.
He urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to consider establishing temporary voter registration centres within major markets to improve access for traders and residents.
“We appreciate this initiative because it is helping to educate our people. We will continue to support efforts that encourage citizens to participate in the electoral process. A better Nigeria is in the interest of all of us,” he said.
Chukwu noted that Garki International Market, with over 3,000 shops and more than 10,000 traders, remains a strategic hub for voter mobilisation and civic awareness campaigns.
He assured that the market leadership would continue to support voter education initiatives and encourage traders to register, collect their PVCs and actively participate in elections.
The sensitisation campaign is part of broader efforts by the FCTA and its partners to deepen democratic participation, improve voter awareness and expand access to registration services across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
