Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State has declared Monday (today) and Tuesday as public holidays and closure of markets to encourage the residents collect their Permanent Voter’s Card.

A statement by the secretary to the state government, Barr Chris Ezem, pleaded with the residents to ensure they collected their cards from the Independent National Electoral Commission before the January 29 dateline. Banks and those on essential duties are however exempted from the directive. It added that executives of the various markets’ unions have been directed to ensure strict compliance with the directive or be prepared to face appropriate sanctions.

Reacting to the announcement, Ijeoma Chima, a 22-year-old student, who said she had been visiting her registration/collection center to no avail, prayed she would succeed this time around. “I would feel bad if I could not collect my card. If the bid fails, it would not only amount to disenfranchising me but will also affect my belief in the sincerity of the commission,” she added. Another youth, Bro Hilary Okoro commended the Ikpeazu for the initiative and appealed to the commission to do the needful, “otherwise the holidays will be wasted man hours to the government and the traders.”