The Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), has called on the people of Southeast region to immediately go for Permanent Voters Card (PVC) registration in any nearest INEC office.
MASSOB made the call after it’s National executive meeting presided over by Comrade Uchenna Madu, the leader of the group.
According to a statement issued by Comrade Edeson Samuel, National Director of Information of MASSOB, the separatist movement ordered all Igbos that are eligible to vote to go for voters registration card in the nearest INEC office, adding that permanent voters cards “is our political weapons and power determination”.
It argued that the people of the region must occupy and dictate it’s political spaces in Nigeria.
MASSOB further noted that the Ndigbo have delayed their political progress and emancipation through non-participation of electoral exercises.
The statement reads: “The Leadership of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign state of Biafra (MASSOB) after our National executive meeting presided by our leader, Comrade Uchenna Madu, resolved the following engagements for the people of Biafra because a stitch in time saves nine. :-
“That MASSOB ordered all Biafrans that are constitutionally eligible to vote to immediately go for voters registration card in the nearest INEC office because permanent voters cards is our political weapons and power determination.
“The people of Biafra must occupy and dictate our political spaces in Nigeria. Ndigbo have delayed our political progress and emancipation through non participation of electoral exercises.
“Eligible Biafrans must ensure they register for their Permanent Voters Card (PVC) as it is their political weapon and power.
“Possession of the PVC is not only for Nigerian elections but also for future Biafra Referendum participation. Boycotting registration could harm chances of Biafra sovereignty.
“That possession of the Nigeria Permanent Voters Card (PVC) is not merely for Nigeria elections only but for other constitutional and legal transactions including engaging and participation of Biafra Referendum as the only identification card for eligibility of the people that will determine the future of Biafra actualization through a United Nations observed referendum.
“Boycotting voters registration and non possession of the permanent voters card is a self inflicted decision for any future referendum on the self determination for sovereignty of Biafra independence.
“That for a proposed statehood of Biafra to be ordered and declared by United Nations, the voting population of Biafrans through the registration and possession of the voters card must be captured in the national demography of the existing political entity (Nigeria) from which the voting population of the coming statehood (Biafra) is seeking for a separation.
Speaking further in the statement, MASSOB called for a holistic review of the current voters registration exercise, adding that the entire permanent voters registration exercise is dubiously schemed to favor only the northern region.
“MASSOB calls for review of the current voters registration exercise because the entire permanent voters registration exercise is fraudulently dubious schemed to favor only the northern region. INEC patterned the exercise to include even underaged children during 2018 and 2022 registration exercises
“We saw even an underaged persons of northern origin below 18 years registered by INEC for 2019 and 2023 general elections.
“MASSOB still believe and anchored on our principal of non violence towards all our approaches to Biafra actualisation and restoration. We don’t believe in arms struggle, we shall abide by all the principles and charters of United Nation declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People and African Charter on the Human and People Rights of Indigenous People.”
