Ahead of the 2023 general elections voters have been charged to collect monetary inducements from politicians and vote in line with their conscience.
The charge was made by members of the Panel of discussants at the ITV/Radio 2022 Pre-Indepemdence Anniversary Public Lecture with the theme, ‘Engendering Good Governance, Transparency and Accountability Through Citizens Ownership of The Electoral Process.’
The panelists charged Nigerians to ensure that they’re part owners of the political parties as this will ensure that they have a larger stake in the electioneering process of the 2023 general elections.
The panelists – Dr. Godwin Uyi Ojo, Executive Director of the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth, Nigeria(ERA/FoEN); Annie Umoru, a rights activist; Comrade Leo Atakpu, Director of the Africa Network for Environmental and Economic Justice(ANEEJ); John Yakubu, a politician; Pastor Azemhe Azena, a cleric; Prof. Stella Omonigho, a lecturer and Barrister Casely Omon-Irabor, a lawyer, stated that the people should own the political process by being active participants in the affairs of the political parties and also the electioneering process.
They stated that they should avoid being bought over by politicians especially in the voting process so that they can take the right decision while casting their votes for politicians who will come in to serve the people judiciously even as they know that such people determine the projects/programmes fit for their locality.
“In the course of the voting if any politician gives you money meant to buy your vote feel free to collect the money and vote for the candidate of your choice not minding who the politician is inducing you to vote for,” the panelists echoed.
In his address heralding the commencement of the lecture, the Guest Speaker, Professor Asomwan Sonnie Adagbonyin, the acting Vice Chancellor of the Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, disclosed that “there appears to be a conspiracy by the political elite to keep the masses in perpetual poverty.”
Going further, he stressed, “seemingly, the interest of the elite lies only in politicking and in depleting the nation’s resources with little or nothing to show for it.”
He accused politicians of “rampant crisscrossing from one political group to another in search of individual relevance, to gain power and make money.”
Chairman of the occasion, Chief Matthew Emiohe, the Itohan of Esanland, said: “voters apathy is rife in Nigeria because people believe that their votes will not count. Therefore, citizens need reassurances that votes now count with the introduction of BIVAS and the electronic transmission/upload.
“Voters apathy is oiled the way parties choose their candidates. Imposition of less desired candidates over popular ones make people to stay away from election.”
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