As the build-up to the 2023 general elections is thickening by the day and the political gladiators are gathering momentum, the authorities of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) has directed the members to get their Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) before the deadline.
ValidViewNetwork recalls that Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon of Federal High Court in Abuja has granted an order of interim injunction on the June 30, 2022 deadline for registration earlier announced by INEC following a suit filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and ‘185 concerned Nigerians’.
Undoubtedly, RCCG is a foremost Pentecostal Church in Nigeria with Parishes in almost every community and members in almost every family.
The directive of RCCG to its members is contained in a letter dated June 17, 2022, from the Intercontinental Youth Pastor/PICR, Belemina Obunge, and addressed to pastors in charge of provinces.
The letter conveying the directive reads, “We refer to the above and wish to kindly inform you that we have received a directive from the Mission Authority to ensure a high level of sensitization in all our parishes on the need for all our members to get their Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.”
As part of its commitment towards ensuring a seamless exercise, the Authorities of the Mission equally directed the Pastors to aside from mobilizing and encouraging members to obtain the Voter’s card, release the church buildings for the exercise.
The letter further reads “ Based on the above, Provincial Hqtrs and Mega Parishes are encouraged to use their Parish as a centre for one or two days to facilitate their members’ and interested neighbours’ registration considering the closeness of the deadline (June 30th, 2022) of the Continuous Voter Registration exercise.”
ValidViewNetwork reports that the inclusion of neighbours among those that should use the facilities of the church for registration has further endeared people to the principle of involvement that has been adopted by the church.
The church has also put in place effective mechanisms to monitor compliance as the Pastors were directed to submit report on or before Tuesday 27th, June 2022.
“Provinces will be required to send a summarized report of parishes’ compliance with the above directive to the office of the undersigned, stating the number of adult members versus the number of PVCs counted.
ValidViewNetwork recalls that there were so many misconceptions and insinuations when RCCG came up with the Office of Directorate of Politics and Governance earlier in the year. Some individuals had thought that the creation of the Directorate of Politics and Governance was principally to mobilise support for the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, a Presidential aspirant and member of the church.
ValidViewNetwork opines that the current directive from the Mission further confirms that the creation of the Directorate of Politics and Governance is beyond the ambition of Prof. Yemi Osinbajo as he had lost the primaries of his political party.
