From David Onuoja, Abuja
Stakeholders on Electoral matters have converged on Akure, Ondo State to deliberate on how to enhance voters inclusiveness and participation ahead of November 16 Gubernatorial election in the state.
The stakeholders meeting which was initiated by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), through the Electoral Institute (TEI), said the purpose was to sit on a roundtable to discuss how to increase voters participation and inclusivity.
This, maybe connected to the voters’ apathy that was witnessed in recent time in Nigeria.
During a paper presentation titled: Achieving Popular Participation and Inclusivity in the 2024 Ondo Governorship Elections by Prof. Hassan Saliu, the National President, Nigerian Political Science Association (NPSA), said the causes of Voters apathy is on the political system in Nigeria.
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He lamented that, “politics in Nigeria in our days, is centered on godfatherism, nature and character of party primaries, Internal party wrangling, gender insensitivity among others are the major cause of Voters apathy because they believed that their votes can no longer count.”
The meeting, recommended that INEC should consider sustaining the use of SMS to mobilise for PVC collection in its 221 RAC and 18 LGAs collection centres in the state before the election.
It also recommended that INEC Ondo extent its hands of engagements to reach people through cultural associations and traditional institutions, that over militarization and policing of the electoral environment sends bad perception and can affect voter’s participation.
Stakeholders who stated the need for sensitization on voters right to recall elected officials, noted that Security personnels and election officials are disenfranchise during every round of election. Something needs to be done to allow them cast their vote 24 hours before election day, they observed.
Those in attendance are: Prof. Adele Jinadu, Member Board of the Electoral Institute (BEI), Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Ondo, Mrs Toyin Babalola, Director-General of The Electoral Institute. Dr Sa’ad Umar Idris, representative of Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Directors of Research and Documentation and Training, Prof. Ibrahim Sani and Dr Binta Kasim Mohammed and Ondo State Administrative Secretary.
