Ezekiel Alabi, a public affairs analyst, says the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the National Orientation Agency(NOA) must intensify their campaign against voter apathy.

Alabi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan on Tuesday that the recorded 84 million registered voters was not as important as the actual number of voters that would come out to vote during the forthcoming general elections.

NAN recalls that Prof. Mahmood Yakubu on Monday disclosed that there were no fewer than 84 million registered voters in the country.

But Alabi said the outcome of previous general elections in the country had shown that less than 50 per cent of registered voters actually participated in the exercises.

”This clearly reveals that voter apathy usually characterise general elections in the country.

”It now behoves on INEC, NOA and other relevant agencies of government to step up strategies in sensitising these 84 million voters on the need to exercise their civic responsibility.

”Those that are yet to collect their Permanent Voter Cards(PVCs) should be sensitised to collect them while those with the PVCs should be implored to use it wisely during the elections,” he stated.

Alabi also enjoined all eligible Nigerians to brace up for the forthcoming general elections and take active roles in ensuring that the nation witnessed successful polls.

He admonished the electorate not to sell their PVCs to unscrupulous politicians moving about with cash.

Alabi further urged security operatives to intensify their intelligence gathering so as to nab unscrupulous politicians and their agents.

He expressed optimism that more than 90 per cent of registered voters could participate in the forthcoming general elections.

“That is if INEC, NOA and other relevant agencies of government play their respective roles effectively,” he said. (NAN)

– Jan. 8, 2019 @ 15:45 GMT |