Omiete Blessing
Stakeholders, at a one day Town Hall meeting on Electoral Reform in Rivers State, have stressed the need for increased voters participation in electioneering processes.
The stakeholders made the call at the meeting organised by a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA), in Port Harcourt.
The event which was attended by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Security agencies, civil society groups, the media and other key players during the 2023 election, aimed at harvesting the gains and areas of improvement ahead of future elections in Nigeria.
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The stakeholders during the meeting, observed the need for transparency in the nation’s electoral process, noting the challenges that negatively affected the 2023 general elections across the country.
Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Obo Effanga who was represented by Mr. Mark Usulor said that the commission is not resting on its oars but working with other stakeholders to improve on existing gains.
Speaking, Executive Director, PAACA, Mr. Ezenwa Nwagwu said understanding the laws that govern the electioneering process was very important in order to propose credible reforms.
He said, “It is worrying that people do not know the details in the electoral act. The legal regime by which elections are conducted are hardly known. If anyone is to be a Christians he/must have a Bible.
“The cost of electricity and garri in the market is embedded in how much we are interested in our leadership recruitment process. And the law that guides how that is done is embedded in the Electoral Act.
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“I am concerned that if stakeholders do not get acquainted with the electoral reforms, we will not make a quick progress in our electoral process and there is need for quick progress because our country is hungry and starving for progress and the only way that can happen is through knowledge. Knowledge of the law will empower individuals to take the right actions on issues.
“We need to show more interest in politicians, their political parties and their candidates because everything they do robs off on the larger society negatively or positively. So all of us have to take responsibility whether we are security agents, electoral management body, civil society, media and everybody”, he added.
In his part, the Chairman of Nigerian Union of Journalists, Rivers State Council, Mr. Stanley Job said that the role of the media in electioneering reportage is not static, adding that journalists have reputation to uphold even as they carry out their duties.
Participants at the Townhall meeting called for more sensitisation on the extent of reforms done to deepen the transparent nature of the Nation’s electoral process.