Delta State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan has challenged traditional rulers to educate their subjects on the need to collect their Permanent Voter’s Card.

He made the call yesterday while addressing traditional rulers council of Oshimili North local Government Area when he led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidates for next month’s general elections to pay them a courtesy visit at the Palace of Obi of Akwukwu-Igbo, HRM Obi David Azuka.

Some of the traditional rulers who were present included the Ugoani of Okpanam, Obuzo of Ibusa, and representatives of Ogbelani of Illah and the Regent of Ebu.

Governor Uduaghan told the traditional rulers to take it as a priority for all their subjects who are of voting age to exercise their franchise.

“The instrument to enable your people is the Permanent Voter’s Card. It is good that INEC (Independent National Electoral Commission) has decentralised the collection centres for the PCV; tell your people to go and collect their cards to enable them vote,” Uduaghan said. He spoke of the need for more enlightenment campaigns to enable the voters know the ballot boxes to cast their votes so as to avoid void votes.

The governor informed the traditional rulers that President Goodluck Jonathan is the presidential candidate of the PDP, stating that he deserves to be re-elected because “he has held the country together despite the challenges.”

Dr. Uduaghan also introduced Senator Ifeanyi Okowa as the governorship candidate of PDP, Chief Peter Nwaoboshi as the senatorial candidate for Delta North Senatorial district, Hon. Amaechi Mrakpor as the candidate of PDP for House of Representatives Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency and Hon. Pat Ajudua as the candidate for House of Assembly, Oshimili North constituency.

Senator Okowa, on his part, urged traditional rulers to enlighten their people on the need to vote during the elections.

He called on the traditional rulers to thank Governor Uduaghan for making it possible for them to emerge as candidates on the PDP platform. Okowa assured the traditional rulers that, if elected governor, he will consolidate on the successes of the Dr Uduaghan’s administration and introduce new policies and programmes that will better the lives of the people.

•Photo shows Governor Uduaghan.