The Oriire Youth Council has flagged off its week-long #OriireFirst PVC Drive aimed at boosting voter registration and participation across the 10 wards of Oriire Local Government Area.
The exercise, which began yesterday, featured visits to churches, markets, traditional institutions, and political leaders.
At Christ Apostolic Church, Oke-Isegun, Onilaaru (Ward 1), the Council’s Public Relations Officer II, Ojo Oluwasegun Emmanuel, told the congregation that the Permanent Voter Card (PVC) remains a vital tool for citizens to shape leadership. Citing Proverbs 29:2, he emphasized that voter participation is essential for good governance.
“We are not here to tell you who to vote for — that decision is yours,” he said. “But every eligible person must ensure they are registered and their votes count.”
The campaign train also stormed Iluju Market, where traders and artisans were sensitized, before moving to several churches including First Baptist Church, Iluju (Ward 1), Olorunda Baptist Church, Olorunda (Ward 3), and Alaafia Oluwa Baptist Church, Tewure (Ward 2).
In Orile-Aipo, the team paid homage to the Alaipo of Orile-Aipo, Oba Thomas Ajadi Onaolapo, who commended the initiative for its grassroots reach.
The day’s engagements ended at the Oke-Anu residence of Rt. Hon. ‘Gunju Ojo, former Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly. While applauding the Council’s non-partisan stance, Ojo recalled his role in recommending the creation of 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in Oyo State as Deputy Speaker between 1999 and 2003, a recommendation later signed into law in 2016 under the late Governor Abiola Ajimobi.
Ex-Officio 1 of the Council and Oyo State Youth Parliamentarian, Joshua Ojo Aderemi, told journalists that the drive was deliberately designed to engage religious, traditional, market, and political leaders.
“Our message is simple: without PVCs, Oriire cannot speak at the ballot box, and without participation, development will continue to elude us,” he said.
National Chairman of the Council, Sarafadeen Isiaq Owonikoko, and National Secretary, Sanusi Olalekan, both reaffirmed that the campaign remains a civic-driven effort, not partisan politics. Representatives of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), led by Mr. Adeniyi Oluseyi Gideon (COMO), also joined the drive, urging residents to collect unclaimed PVCs from the INEC office.
Other members of the Council’s delegation included Ajala Oluwaseun (Assistant National Secretary), Aluko Tosin (Ward 3 Secretary), Olarewaju Nafiu (Ward 3 Representative), Saheed Kazeem (Welfare Director), and Akorede Phebian Jacob (Financial Secretary).
The #OriireFirst PVC Drive continues today in Wards 9 and 10.
