A political pressure group in Rivers State, Rivers Women Unite for Sim (RWUS), has collapsed its structure into the Renewed Hope Agenda and the Rainbow Coalition led by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

The group also urged women in the state to obtain their Permanent Voter’s Cards and participate actively in the 2027 general elections.

The convener of the group, Mrs Sotonye Toby-Fulton, made the call during the group’s monthly prayer meeting in Port Harcourt, themed “Peace Be Still.”

Toby-Fulton stressed the importance of the PVC, urging women who had only temporary voter cards to obtain their permanent cards ahead of the elections.

“Your PVC is very important. Your PVC is your power to make a difference. They say 99 days of the week for the thief but one day for the owner of the house. Do not be discouraged. Do not be afraid,” she said.

She also warned women against selling their votes, urging them to remain calm and resilient throughout the electioneering process.

“Do not sell it for N500. A lot of things are happening. But we are friends with God. God is not going to come down and cast votes for us. It is in our hands. It is in our power,” Toby-Fulton said.

She urged women to exercise their franchise, stressing that political change could only be achieved through active participation.

“2027 will come and go, but if you do not have this to participate, to make your voices heard and loud, you are nothing. You are nowhere,” she added.

Also speaking, a former chairperson of the Federation of International Women Lawyers in Rivers State, Adata Bio-Briggs, said every eligible citizen, particularly women, should obtain a PVC to participate in the electoral process and contribute to achieving the change they desire.

“We’ve been preaching this message for a long time. We must have our PVC. The PVC is what will give you the access that you need, what you need for good government and everything,” she said.

Bio-Briggs also urged voters not to stay at home on election day after obtaining their PVCs.

“Without that PVC, all this thing we’re talking, we’re just playing. So it’s for all of us to come out. Even on the election day, don’t say ‘I have PVC’ and sit at home. On election day, you come out and exercise that your franchise,” she said.

Dr Caroline Okpokiri urged women to participate actively in the 2027 electioneering process, saying they could influence their families and communities.

“We encourage our women that every woman, as an advocate, as an intercessor, to go about with her PVC. Because as mothers, we have children that we can influence at home. As mothers, we can also influence our husbands when it is time to vote,” she said.

Okpokiri added, “We’ll come out to vote, we’ll stand and vote, and we will protect our votes.”