Yesterday, 10th December 2022, WeVote kicked off its PVC Bus Drive 2.0 project under the #SixtyPercentOfUs initiative in partnership with YIAGA Africa and with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with the induction and training of its mobilization officers at Sunview Hotel, Alagbaka, Ondo State.
In his welcome remarks, the Convener of WeVote and Executive Director of Advocacy for Civic Engagement Centre (ACE Centre), Obinna Osisiogu said the project aimed to support at least 60% of eligible voters in Ondo and Ogun states to collect their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) and vote in the 2023 general elections. According to him, the project was initiated to eliminate the logistical barriers hindering some Nigerians, particularly those residing in rural areas, from participating in the ongoing PVC collection exercise. The event was attended by members of the media, On Air Personalities and media presenters Femi Olabode and Oladipuo Oluwatobi of Crest FM and Olanrewaju Ayo of Scopeline Media and Oluyemi Fasipe of Yemiefash media.15 young people were inducted as WeVote mobilization officers who were tasked by WeVote’s Programme Manager, Vanessa Onyemauwa, to ensure all project activities are conducted diligently, responsibly and in a non-partisan manner.
WeVote implemented the first phase of the PVC Bus Drive during the Continuous Voter Registration exercise which ended on 31st July 2022 by providing free buses to transport people to INEC registration centers in the FCT, Ondo and Ogun states, facilitating the registration of over 30,000 people between May and July 2022. The second phase of the project, which shall be implemented in Ogun and Ondo states, shall see buses again deployed to convey people to INEC offices to collect their PVCs. The project has launched a PVC Collection Call Center to contact residents and provide support to collect their PVCs and vote as part of the traditional and non-traditional means of voter mobilization. Radio jingles and interviews, a social media campaign and town criers shall be used to engage the public throughout the duration of the project. Following its youth-centered approach, WeVote’s PVC Bus Drive 2.0 is also slated to hold town hall events in universities in Ogun and Ondo states to ensure youths and first-time voters are engaged and mobilized to vote ahead of the 2023 general election.