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
The Tide source reports that Prof. Akinoso was elected alongside 38 other executive members of the party at the congress held on Saturday.
Other executive members are Dr Abiola Olaonipekun, who emerged as Secretary, Alhaja Latifah Latifu, Women Leader and Mr A. Adeleke, elected as Youth Leader.
It was learnt that the congress, which took place at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Oke Ado in Ibadan, was attended by representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Police, other security agencies and prominent members of the party.
The election was supervised by electoral committee members, among whom were Prince Diran Odeyemi, who served as Chairman, Hon. Awoniyi Tolulope, Mr Babatunde Gbadamosi, Queen Stepheine Oyechere, Alhaji Yusuf Abidakun, Mr Olumide Aguda and Dr Phillips Adeniyi, who served as Secretary.
Prof. Akinoso, in his inaugural address, urged members of the party to set aside intra-party differences.
He advised them to concentrate their resources on the promotion of the party, saying, “The primary responsibilities of party executive members are to coordinate party activities, ensure harmony among members, and ensure party victory during general elections.
“Our immediate assignments are to key into INEC released 2027 general election time-tables. As directed by the National Caretaker Committee of PDP, our party e-membership registration starts next week. We must be fully involved and do a membership drive.
“A political party is only relevant and benefits its members if it wins the election. This is our goal. We should set aside intra-party differences; concentrate our resources towards the promotion of the party. We will make necessary consultations and dialogue to actualise this”.
President Tinubu disclosed this during an interfaith breaking of fast with senior journalists and media executives at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Saturday.
He also disclosed that his administration had opened up on the principles of true federalism to the extent that local governments now get direct allocation from the Federal Government.
“There’s no morning that I ever leave my house without going through the newspapers. It’s an addiction. I read all of you.
“It might not be in full detail, but headline, the one that would hit me and the ones that won’t.
“At the beginning of this administration, I was just a little bit stubborn, looking at opportunities to correct things and make life more easier for the downtrodden.
“We’ve opened up the principle of federalism to the extent that local governments are now getting their money, but how they use it is in your hands. So, don’t bombard me alone,” President Tinubu said.
The ruling party said the ADC had turned criticism of the APC-led administration into its operating manifesto instead of presenting concrete solutions to Nigeria’s economic challenges.
In a statement issued on Saturday by the APC National Publicity Secretary, Mr Felix Morka, the party dismissed the ADC’s interpretation of a report presented at a policy dialogue organised by Agora Policy which suggested that the country’s poverty rate had risen from 49 per cent to 63 per cent.
Mr Morka said the opposition party’s reaction to the report as a “damning verdict” on the government’s economic policies reflected either ignorance of economic realities or deliberate political mischief.
“The African Democratic Congress’ attempt to spin a recent report presented at the Agora Policy dialogue indicating a rise of poverty rate of 63 per cent from 49 per cent as a damning verdict on this administration’s economic policies speaks either to its shocking ignorance of economic policy or its wilful blindness to the justification for, and transformative impacts of, ongoing economic reforms,” he said.
The APC spokesman noted that the report itself recognised the necessity of reforms aimed at correcting long-standing structural distortions in the economy.
According to him, the ADC had failed to present any credible alternative policy direction for Nigerians.
“Clearly, the ADC does not recognise itself as a political party. The ADC has not articulated a single alternative policy position or prescription of benefit to Nigerians. Condemning the APC and its policies has become its operating manifesto,” Mr Morka said.
He explained that major economic decisions taken by President Bola Tinubu, including the removal of fuel subsidy and the unification of multiple foreign exchange windows, were necessary steps to rescue the country’s economy from collapse.
Mr Morka said the subsidy regime had for years placed a heavy burden on public finances, consuming trillions of naira annually while encouraging corruption, fuel smuggling and inefficiencies in the system.
He added that the reforms had helped redirect national resources to key sectors such as infrastructure, healthcare, education and social development.
The APC spokesman acknowledged that economic reforms often come with short-term hardship but stressed that the measures were essential to build a stronger and more resilient economy.
“Economic reform is never cost-free anywhere in the world. The transient hardship experienced by Nigerians was an inevitable cost of reforms meant to build and guarantee a better future for all Nigerians,” he said.
Mr Morka maintained that the country’s economic outlook was already improving, citing recent growth figures and stronger external reserves.
“Our economy has rebounded and is expanding steadily. The country’s Gross Domestic Product grew by 4.4 per cent last year and is projected to expand by 5.5 per cent this fiscal year, with foreign reserves now exceeding $50 billion,” he stated.
He also pointed to government initiatives designed to cushion the effects of economic adjustments on citizens, including cash transfer programmes, student loan schemes and the rollout of compressed natural gas (CNG) initiatives to reduce transportation costs.
Mr Morka reaffirmed that the APC-led administration would remain focused on rebuilding the economy and expanding social investments to support vulnerable Nigerians.
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