AS Nigerians file out for the first segment of the 2019 general elections with the presidential and NASS elections this Saturday, it has been asserted that fear of election rigging is a major contributing factor to apathy and low turn-out of voters in most elections in the country.
The assertion was made by the Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Dr Garba Abari during the opening ceremony of a two-day zonal workshop for citizen groups drawn from the North East region on civic and voter education ahead of February and March elections holding in Bauchi on Monday.
The NOA DG who was represented by a director in the Agency, Mr David Akoji, stated that elections in Nigeria are characterised by large numbers of voided votes as well as the disturbing trend of vote buying, hence the need for continuous voter education to the citizens.
Garba Abari said that “It is often the case that majority of voters, most of whom reside in rural areas are not exposed to adequate voter education so as to equip them with the knowledge to exercise their civic rights by voting correctly at elections.”
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He added that “Many of our electorates express frustration and fear that their votes will not count. This no doubt contributes largely to low voters turn out at most elections.”
“It is in recognition of these challenges and the need to commence the process of capacity building for citizens groups in the 36 states of the Federation as well as the Federal Capital Territory towards getting them to actively participate in the process of sensitizing citizens in their communities of operation, that the National Orientation Agency undertook the task of mapping of citizens groups in the 36 states and the FCT as a critical step towards nominating participants for the capacity building workshop on civic responsibility which is happening today,” he explained.
Also speaking, the District Head of Bauchi, Alhaji Nuru Adamu Jumba said that without proper sensitisation to citizens on the electoral process especially on how to handle ballot papers on election day, there would be more invalid votes and cancellations of results which might affect the success of the 2019 elections.
He, therefore, commended NOA for organising the workshop and cautioned security agencies against interfering in electoral process saying their duty is only to provide security for both the electorates and INEC officials.
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