Politics
Boosting Voter Education Ahead Of 2015 Polls
The Independent Na
tional Electoral Commission (INEC) and other relevant organisations are not leaving any stone unturned in the quest to boost voter education ahead of the 2015 polls.
To this end, a National Inter-agency Advisory Committee on Voter Education and Publicity (NICVEP), has been set up to beef-up voter education campaign.
According to a recent statement signed by Mr Oluwole Osaze-Uzi, INEC’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity, the members are drawn from 15 organisations.
The organisations are: INEC, National Orientation Agency (NOA), News Agency of Nigeria, Nigerian Television Authority, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Nigerian Guild of Editors, Nigeria Labour Congress, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Federal Ministry of Information, among others.
Osaze-Uzi said that the committee to be headed by the National Commissioner in Charge of INEC Information and Publicity Committee would ensure effective dissemination of information and enlightenment of the electorate for credible elections in 2015.
In order to keep the electorate informed about its activities, INEC recently brought to public domain, timetable for the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and Continuous Voter Registration.
The first phase of the distribution of the PVCs and Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) which started in 10 selected states in May, would be carried out throughout the country in phases.
The states covered under the first phase were: Taraba, Gombe Zamfara, Kebbi, Benue, Kogi, Abia, Enugu, Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa
The second phase of the exercise which covers 11 states and the FCT commences from Friday, July 18 to Sunday, July 27.
The states are: Yobe, Bauchi, Jigawa, Sokoto, FCT, Kwara , Anambra, Ebonyi , Ondo, Oyo, Delta and Cross River
The third phase which commences on Friday, Aug.22 and ends on Sunday, Aug. 31 covers Adamawa, Borno, Kaduna, Katsina, Kano, Plateau, Nasarawa, Niger, Imo, Lagos, Ogun, Edo and Rivers
Mr Kayode Idowu, Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, in a statement urged voters to cross-check their names in the displayed voter register.
He also advised those who registered before but did not see their names in the displayed voter register to re-register during the continuous voter registration.
According to Idowu, those who may change location are expected to write to the Resident Electoral Commissioner in their new states of domicile, “well before the election, as no transfer will be approved less than 30 days to the election’’.
For those who lost their cards or whose cards were damaged, he said they should apply for replacement in writing, addressed to the Resident Electoral Commissioner through the INEC Electoral Officer of the Local Government Area where they registered.
INEC is also not relenting in sensitising voters in Ekiti and Osun, ahead of the June 21 and Aug. 9 governorship elections respectively.
Prof. Lai Olurode, INEC National Commissioner in-charge of South West, advised politicians to accept the outcome of the governorship elections in Osun and Ekiti, whichever way the results tilt.
“Politicians must have a positive mindset that they want to go into elections; they must have the spirit of sportsmanship and not the spirit of winning at all cost because what they want to do is for the good of their state.’’
According to him, INEC has been doing a lot on voter education to restrain people from resorting to violence.
The INEC commissioner advised that election campaign should be issue-based and not about personalities, adding that if this was done, violence would be avoided.
The commissioner also stressed need for people not to misplace their voter cards.
He warned against voters selling their cards, adding that quality leaders would only emerge through transparent voting.
Olurode urged security agencies to be alert to their responsibilities, adding that INEC alone cannot secure an electoral process.
“We need the cooperation of every security agent to deliver a credible free and transparent election.
“Security operators must not give in to any compromise under any circumstances; they must be the agent of the rule of law and not the agent of powerful politicians who are not interested in any free election,’’ he said.
Mr Solomon Akaya, National Coordinator, Men and Women of Action Campaign Team, a non-governmental organisation, appealed to NOA and other stakeholders to upscale sensitisation, ahead of the 2015 general elections.
He said that the 2015 elections were crucial to Nigeria’s unity, progress and socio-economic development.
Akaya said that mass participation of eligible voters in the elections would enhance the credibility of the 2015 polls.
“The National Orientation Agency and other government agencies responsible for voter education should begin to sensitise Nigerians on why they should participate in the 2015 elections.
“Mass participation through voting during the elections will be a good indication of how democracy has deepened in Nigeria,’’ he said.
“Elected officials on the platform of a party who decamp to another party while in office are shortchanging the electorate who voted them into office,’’ he said.
On his part, Mr Mike Omeri, the Director-General of NOA, said the agency would partner with INEC to ensure free and fair elections in 2015.
He said that NOA would continue to work with INEC in the area of voter education, adding that their partnership would extend beyond election period.
Analysts want INEC to provide the necessary tools to the National Inter-agency Advisory Committee on Voter Education and Publicity, to enable it perform.
The selected bodies are tested in public enlightenment and will deliver if given the desired backing.
Chijioke Writes from News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
Chijioke Okoronkwo
In a statement issued on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Obiora Ifoh, the party said it had taken note of Mr Obi’s defection alongside some of his supporters, as well as what it called a “lacklustre speech” delivered by the former Anambra State governor at the defection event.
“We wondered what new he intends to sell to Nigerians,” the party said, adding that it was not surprised by the move, having “since September 2024, parted ways with Peter Obi and some of his blind supporters in the National Assembly.”
According to the statement, the faction said it had patiently awaited Mr Obi’s exit, describing it as a blessing.
“The party is finally liberated by this defection and as party leaders, we count it as a blessing,” the party said.
The faction further disclosed that it had previously urged Mr Obi and his supporters to leave if they were unable to work with the party leadership.
It claimed that several lawmakers had been suspended for anti-party activities and that similar action would have been taken against Mr Obi but for the intervention of “some well-meaning Nigerians.”
It also blamed its internal crisis on Mr Obi and Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, accusing them of sponsoring what it described as an insurrection against the Julius Abure-led leadership.
“The crisis we had in the Labour Party was caused by Peter Obi and the Abia State governor, Alex Otti,” the statement alleged, adding that it was surprising Dr Otti had not followed Mr Obi out of the party despite his suspension.
Reacting to Mr Obi’s defection event in Enugu, the faction claimed the gathering was largely boycotted by prominent political and traditional institutions in the South East, insisting that those present were “political spent forces who cannot win in their wards should there be an election today.”
It warned that this development signalled the failure of any future Mr Obi presidential or vice-presidential ambition, claiming he had “clearly lost the charm that had endeared him to the people prior to 2023.”
The faction also accused Mr Obi of misleading the South East during the 2023 elections, alleging that the region suffers political marginalisation under President Bola Tinubu’s administration as a result.
“He must be told that the South East lost out completely in President Ahmed Tinubu’s government because they trusted and believed in him in 2023,” the statement said, alleging disparities in ministerial appointments and infrastructure allocation to the zone.
The Abure-Led LP apologised to Nigerians for its decision in the last election.
“We gave Nigerians a candidate we thought was good for the nation in 2023, but time has since proved that we made the greatest political mistake. We plead for forgiveness from Nigerians,” the party said.
It urged Nigerians to watch out for a rebranded Labour Party, promising to present “the best prospect” capable of returning Nigeria to what it described as its “glorious days.”
steadily toward unity, justice, and shared prosperity”, he said.
Speaking to journalists on Wednesday at his country home in Ikere-Ekiti, Dr Oluyede said the development came as a shock, stressing that INEC supervised and monitored the PDP governorship primary that produced him as the party’s candidate.
According to him, INEC officials documented the process, completed all required forms, and even affirmed his candidacy in court through sworn affidavits arising from cases linked to the primary election.
He maintained that no court order or injunction currently restrains INEC from listing his name as the PDP candidate, arguing that the electoral body lacks the constitutional power to determine who emerges as a party’s nominee.
Dr Oluyede described such decisions as the exclusive responsibility of political parties, not the electoral umpire.
While playing down panic over the released list, Dr Oluyede noted that electoral processes often involve reviews and corrections.
He disclosed that he had commenced wide consultations, including engagements with PDP leadership and formal correspondence with INEC, to seek clarification on the omission and determine the next line of action.
The PDP candidate assured his supporters across Ekiti State that he would appear on the ballot, expressing confidence that the situation would be resolved in his favour.
He described attempts to exclude candidates from elections as dangerous and undemocratic, warning that such tactics undermine the people’s right to freely choose their leaders.
Dr Oluyede called on the people of Ekiti to reject any form of disenfranchisement, insisting that elections should be contests of ideas, records, and acceptance by the electorate rather than exclusionary maneuvers.
He also declared that the PDP in Ekiti had resolved its past internal crises and was now united, focused, and ready to win the forthcoming governorship election.
He urged party members and supporters to remain calm and focused, expressing optimism that, with divine grace and the will of the people, the PDP would emerge victorious at the polls.
Mr Obi spoke while formally declaring for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) at a well-attended event in Enugu on Wednesday, where he outlined what he described as a fresh roadmap for rescuing the country from its socio-economic challenges.
Addressing party members, supporters and other stakeholders, the former governor stressed that leadership must be driven by integrity and accountability, warning against the culture of double standards in public office.
“We cannot continue to deceive our people. Leadership is about telling the truth and leading by example. You cannot promise one thing in public and do another in private. That is not leadership, and that is not the change Nigeria needs”, Mr Obi said.
He maintained that genuine national rebirth would only be possible if entrenched wrongs were corrected, adding that governance must be guided by competence, discipline and a clear sense of purpose.
Mr Obi also underscored the need for fresh thinking in the nation’s political space, urging political actors to move away from recycled ideas that have failed to deliver sustainable development.
“We must come with new ideas,” he said, adding that “Nigeria’s problems are not mysterious; what has been lacking is the courage and competence to address them differently. We need a new approach that puts people first and focuses on production, not consumption.”
Calling for a broad based political collaboration, Mr Obi appealed to parties and stakeholders across ideological divides to work together in the national interest.
“This country is bigger than any party or individual. All parties must come together to change the present trend. What matters is not the platform, but the future of Nigeria and the wellbeing of its citizens”, he declared.
Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, Mr Obi challenged aspirants seeking elective offices to ensure transparency in their credentials, warning that the era of falsified certificates was drawing to a close.
“Anyone contesting for any position in 2027 must come with genuine certificates. All the machinery is now in place to verify what is genuine and what is not. Integrity must start from the very foundation of leadership”, he stated.
Drawing lessons from international development models, Mr Obi cited Rwanda and Indonesia as examples of countries that rose from difficult beginnings to become thriving economies through disciplined leadership and sound policies.
“These countries were once behind us,” he noted, adding that “Today, they are moving ahead because they chose competent leadership, clear vision and policies that support local production and human capital development.”
He also criticised the economic policies of the present administration, particularly the continued importation of food items that can be produced locally, describing such practices as inimical to national development.
“You cannot grow an economy by killing local production. Importing food that we can produce in Nigeria destroys jobs, weakens our farmers and drains our foreign exchange. A serious country must produce what it consumes”, he argued.
The event featured renewed calls from ADC supporters for sustained engagement and mobilisation, as Mr Obi reiterated his belief that Nigeria remains redeemable if led with honesty, competence and a commitment to shared national progress.
In his remarks, the National Chairman of the ADC, Senator David Mark, expressed confidence in the emerging coalition, assuring Nigerians that the party would deliver good governance at all levels of administration if entrusted with power.
The gathering also witnessed the defection of several prominent politicians from different political parties across the South-East and beyond.
The motion endorsing the defection was moved by a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, and seconded by former economic adviser to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, Prof. Osita Ogbu.
Goodwill messages from notable political figures, including Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Mrs. Aisha Yesufu, Chief Sam Egwu, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, Chief Achike Udenwa, Mr Onyema Ugochukwu and Senator Gilbert Nnaji among others, further underscored the growing momentum within the ADC.
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