MASSOB Urges South-East Residents to Obtain PVCs, Says Cards Key to Future Biafra Referendum

The Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has called on people in the South-East and other Biafra-aligned communities to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) immediately, describing the document as a “political weapon” essential for future political participation and any potential referendum on Biafra’s self-determination.

The directive followed a National Executive meeting presided over by the group’s leader, Uchenna Madu, according to a statement issued by its National Director of Information, Edeson Samuel.

In the statement, MASSOB urged all eligible Biafrans to register for voter cards at the nearest office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), emphasising that political engagement is crucial for advancing the Biafra cause.

“MASSOB ordered all Biafrans that are constitutionally eligible to vote to immediately go for voters registration card in the nearest INEC office because permanent voters cards is our political weapons and power determination,” the group stated.

The organisation argued that political disengagement by the Igbo population has hindered the region’s political progress.

“The people of Biafra must occupy and dictate our political spaces in Nigeria. Ndigbo have delayed our political progress and emancipation through non participation of electoral exercises,” the statement added.

According to MASSOB, possessing a PVC extends beyond participation in Nigerian elections. The group claimed the card could serve as a key identification document for future political processes, including a potential referendum on Biafran independence.

“Possession of the PVC is not only for Nigerian elections but also for future Biafra Referendum participation. Boycotting registration could harm chances of Biafra sovereignty,” the statement said.

The group further argued that any future referendum on Biafra’s independence would rely on the existing demographic structure within Nigeria, noting that the number of registered voters from the region would influence the legitimacy of any self-determination process.

“Boycotting voters registration and non possession of the permanent voters card is a self inflicted decision for any future referendum on the self determination for sovereignty of Biafra independence,” the group stated.

MASSOB also contended that for any proposed Biafran state to gain international recognition, the voting population must be captured within Nigeria’s national demographic data.

“That for a proposed statehood of Biafra to be ordered and declared by United Nations, the voting population of Biafrans through the registration and possession of the voters card must be captured in the national demography of the existing political entity (Nigeria) from which the voting population of the coming statehood (Biafra) is seeking for a separation,” the statement added.

However, MASSOB criticised the current voter registration process conducted by INEC, alleging irregularities that it claimed favoured northern Nigeria. The group alleged that underage individuals were registered during previous exercises.

“MASSOB calls for review of the current voters registration exercise because the entire permanent voters registration exercise is fraudulently dubious schemed to favor only the northern region,” the statement said.

It further claimed that minors were included in past voter registration exercises, alleging that underaged persons of northern origin below 18 years were registered by INEC for the 2019 and 2023 general elections.

Despite its criticisms of the electoral process, MASSOB reiterated its commitment to non-violence in pursuing the actualisation of Biafra. The group stated that it remains dedicated to peaceful advocacy and international legal frameworks governing indigenous rights.

“MASSOB still believe and anchored on our principal of non violence towards all our approaches to Biafra actualisation and restoration,” the statement said.

It added, “We don’t believe in arms struggle, we shall abide by all the principles and charters of United Nation declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People and African Charter on the Human and People Rights of Indigenous People.”

MASSOB is one of several pro-Biafra organisations advocating for the independence of the historic Biafra region from Nigeria. The agitation for Biafra has remained a sensitive political issue in the country since the end of the Nigerian Civil War in 1970.