General election: NOA begins nationwide voters’ sensitisation

AS the 2019 general election draws nearer, the National Orientation Agency, (NOA) has embarked on a nationwide sensitisation exercise to educate voters on the proper ways of voting in order to reduce the high number of void votes recorded collation.

The NOA said that void votes had frustrated some voters and consequently led to voter apathy because they (voters) believe their votes do not count.

Addressing journalists on Monday in Abuja, the Director General of the Agency, Dr Garba Abari said it was at this backdrop that the Agency would be flagging off sensitisation sessions against voided votes in the 774 local governments across the country.

According to him “it is worthy of mention, that the National Orientation Agency has been making concerted efforts through its various sensitisation programmes to ensure enduring peace in our communities. As part of its efforts, the agency has carried out sensitisation campaigns on peaceful co-existence in various communities across the country through it building its building a people of peace campaign.”

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Abari, therefore, said, “the National Orientation Agency has fully mobilised its staff in the 36 states and the 774 local governments to carry out mass sensitisation campaigns to address three critical issues.”

He said the three critical issues the sensitisation campaign would focus on are reducing the challenge of voided votes, sensitisation for peaceful general elections, sensitisation against vote buying and selling.

Furthermore, the NOA boss said “it is no longer news to say that elections in Nigeria are sometimes characterised by large numbers of voided votes. It is quite often the case that a lot of our voters, especially in the rural areas are not exposed to adequate continuous voter education so as to equip them with the knowledge to excessive their right to vote by voting correctly at elections.

“Many of our voters express frustration that their votes will not count. This no doubt contributes to voters apathy and low turnout of voters at elections.

“It is in recognition of these challenges and indeed the bitterness and rancour that voided votes lead to that the National Orientation Agency is commencing a nationwide on how to vote correctly. This National campaign will commence on the 9th January 2019 with a national flag-off which will hold in Owerri the Imo State capital.”

He further explained that “soon after this National flag-off, NOA offices in the 774 Local Government in Nigeria will simultaneously carry out sensitisation sessions against voided votes by engaging with citizens in their localities on how to vote correctly at the forthcoming elections.

“Furthermore, Zonal sensitisation sessions against voided votes will be held in selected states in the six geopolitical zones. Note that while this zonal flag-offs are going on, each of the 36 states and the federal capital territory where we have offices will carry out sensitisation sessions against voided votes.

“In each zone, the listed states would be carrying out this sensitisation campaign against voided votes simultaneously for large effect within the zone.”