With less than six months to the 2015 general elections, political
activities in the country have begun to gather momentum. Political
parties and groups have begun strategizing on how to woo voters and win
elections. On this basis, the United Nations Development Project
(UNDP), in collaboration with the Youth initiative for Advocacy, Growth
and Advancement (YIAGA) and Youth Alliance on Constitution and
Electoral Reforms (YACORE) organized a workshop to educate youths on the
procedure required to register for a voter’s card and the need to vote
for quality leadership. The workshop which took place in Port Harcourt
was entitled; “Voter Education training on the 2015 elections,
Continuous Voters Registration/permanent Voter Card Distribution.”
For many politicians, the favour of the electorate towards any
candidate is an assurance of victory. Against this background, many
aspirants fall over one another to curry the favour of voters especially
before elections by doling out different types of gifts to ensure that
they win. The need therefore, for voters to register and obtain voters
cards and the need to be educated on the importance of voting during
the elections has become imperative. The project manager of YIAGA,
Cynthia Mbamalu who spoke on the topic, “Principles of Community
mobilization for Elections”, said that if people are more educated,
there would be less electoral violence. According to her, several
reports on elections and electoral reforms indentify voter apathy as one
of the challenges to citizen’s right to democratic participation and
credible elections. “Election results also reveal that while a large
number of people register to vote, only a small percentage of actually
vote. In Ekiti for instance, 732,116 people registered to vote. 371,419
were females and 366,747 were males. Only 413,708 collected their
permanent voters card and at the end, only 350,256 voted.
“Community mobilisation, which is an act targeted at bringing
together resources whether human or non human to undertake developmental
activity in order to achieve sustainable development should be
facilitated. We should mobilise for elections because without the
people, there can’t be any election. When you come into office through a
credible process, you automatically become accountable for your
actions. We need to better Nigeria and that is why we want people to
participate. How we can ensure that democracy is sustained is by getting
more people involved. Good governance will not come if people are not
held accountable.”
Anne Ikpeme, a project director with the UNDP spoke on the topic;
“Introduction to INEC Guidelines for Observation.” She said the UNDP has
other bodies that contribute to fund its programmes and it has
different components that work with the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC), the National Assembly, political parties, the media
and Civil Society Organisations (CSO). She said UNDP is also interested
in the development of women and youths and it carries out its
activities with the government, women in politics and female-based
CSO’s to ensure that women participate in elections.
“We want women to be actively involved in politics and occupy
leadership positions and that is why we are supporting the affirmative
action for women. We want people to register to vote to avoid fraud
because the purpose of voter registration is to ensure that people who
are not qualified are not allowed to vote. If you do not vote, do not
complain later about the type of leaders we have and why they make the
decisions that they do. The situation would not get better overnight,
but one day, we would get there. We should not say that politics is a
dirty game. Let us do our best to get involved.”
Another facilitator, Jide Ojo, a newspaper columnist who spoke on
the topic, “An overview of Nigeria’s electoral and governance system”
said that the worst illiterate is the political illiterate. She/he sees
nothing, does nothing and takes no part in political life. He doesn’t
know that the cost of living, the price of beans, flour, rent,
medicines, all depend on political decisions. He even prides himself on
his political ignorance, sticks out his chest and says he hates
politics. He doesn’t know that his lack of political non-participation
comes the prostitute, the abandoned child, the robber and worst of all,
corrupt officials. Ojo therefore advised that youths must discover
their mission as young people, saying they can either fulfill or destroy
it.
“Why vote: The imperative of citizens’ participation” was the topic
handled by the chairman, Partners for electoral reforms, Ezenwa Nwagu.
He said Nigerians must engage political office seekers on issues and
votes must interrogate these critical fundamental issues. He maintained
that religion should not be considered when voting and votes should have
no connection to nepotic considerations. He said, “If it does not
translate to a better life for people, then it is not worth it. If young
people would come out and register and use their vote effectively
without selling, then our country would be better. We should ensure
that the government that we want is what is in place and the government
that we don’t want is driven out, that is the importance of citizens’
participation. We need to know how to apply our votes for a change. The
politicians want us to believe that it is what they give the voters
that influence their votes. They prefer giving people what they want
rather than focusing on the development of the economy.”
Paul Anyeze, the assistant director in the Independent national
Electoral Commission (INEC), voters registry, spoke on the topic,
“Guidelines for the continuous registration and PVC distribution.” He
explained that to have a voter’s card, that the data capturing machine
has to capture two fingers on both hands and used the oppoutunity to
advise that those that do not have voters card can register to vote
because voters registration is ongoing. “If your temporary voter’s card
(TVC) is missing, you can fill in an attestation form to be given
another one, but you must be physically present. After that, you can
collect your permanent voters card (PVC). There is no collection by
proxy. Those that cannot come to the polling units can go to their local
governments. In the case of movement, an applicant may apply to the
resident electoral commissioner in the state where the resident
resides. It should be done through the registration officer and the
voter should ask to be transferred to their new constituency provided
that it is done not later than 30 days.”
On the issue of election monitoring and observation, Abiodun Ajibola,
an election monitor spoke on, “Being an effective observer.” He said
that election monitors and observers play very important roles in any
election. However, he said that observers should respect the
sovereignty of the Nigerian people to establish their own government as
well as their fundamental human rights. He said that observers should
respect the country’s laws and should report to the leadership of their
organisation on any conflict. “Election observers should not prejudge
the election outcome and they should restrain from making any personal
comments to the media on what they observed during the elections before
the election observation mission makes their won statement. “They
should not accept any gift or favors that might influence their work.
They should not attempt to take part in the actual administration of the
election. They are responsible for their safety and security. They
should use words moderately. Observers must exhibit sensitivity for host
country’s culture and customs and they should study the terrain before
the election day.”
Source: The Sun
