Mixed Reactions Trail APC E-Registration In Enugu

Reactions have trailed the ongoing re-validation of old members and e-registration of new members by the All Progressives Congress in Enugu State. Some voters claim that they are yet to understand the motive of collecting the particulars of their National Identification Numbers, voters’ cards, and their phone numbers at the same time.
Onyebuchi Eya lives at Golf Estate, Enugu.

He said, “I have registered as an APC member. I was convinced to do it by my friend. But the way the APC officials were after my NIN and telephone number is of a major concern to me. I don’t know if it is just to ascertain if I am a registered voter or something else. It is very difficult to read the heart of a man. I hope my voter’s card will not be replicated, thus making my participation at the polls a mere formality. I wouldn’t like that.”

Ijeoma Ozoene registered at Ngwo Primary School in Udi LGA. She said she had been a card-carrying member of the Peoples Democratic Party until the defection of Gov Peter Mbah of Enugu State to the APC.

“When I was told to register as an APC member, I thought twice,” she said. “One, under the PDP, I was short-changed by our leaders then. We followed them well and participated in various campaigns and meetings. But whenever benefits were to come to us, our leaders would bring in their relatives to take them. Some of their relatives might even live in Abuja. For instance, during the appointment of polling unit monitors for elections, none of us who worked within was chosen. The leaders brought their relatives from nowhere, and they were paid the stipends meant for us. This APC of a thing is still those PDP leaders who are leading. Why should I trust them this time around?”

Levi Eze told our correspondent that he was re-thinking about his political career. “I’m from Udenu. We almost lost our lives during the 2023 elections following the popularity of the Labour Party. I worked for PDP with my blood. When PDP won, we expected some hope. But the beneficiaries today are mainly relatives of our PDP leaders then. Some of them reside in the North. The opportune ones fix their relatives where they are paid monthly. Some get empowerment from the state. Those who suffered have nothing to show to date.

“I had planned to join APC when Uche Nnaji was leading because those that followed him usually got something good, including employment. Nowtoall PDP leaders are in APC. They are the ones still asking us to register. They are not sincere, and I won’t trust them. I got registered, but it is voluntary. I can still register somewhere when I want.”

The acting chairman of APC in Enugu State, Dr Ben Nwoye, had clarified that the demand for NIN from party members was to enable easy access to them.

According to him, “The registration is being done electronically to guarantee us who the actual members are. If we are just picking names or just asking people to just sign in, it doesn’t verify. In this case, one must have a voter card and NIN. We are pursuing two million members. If we ramp up this membership, we can tell you that we are ready to face any opposition in Enugu State come 2027. We are taking the campaign to people’s homes. NIN registration officials are also involved.”