The National Orientation Agency, Yiaga Africa, and Isus-Khe-Itsua (IKID) Foundation have come together to educate voters at the Jabi Timber Market on Election Day Procedure in Abuja.
The campaign tagged “Vote Right/Say No to Election Violence” was organized for traders at the Jabi Timber Market in the Federal Capital Territory on Wednesday.
The Director General of the National Orientation Agency, Dr Garba Abari represented by director Politics, Civic, Ethics and Values (PCEV) Mrs Adeola Adelaja Adeola said it was important for Nigerians to make sacrifices by coming out en masse to cast their votes on the days of election.
He urged Nigerians to come out enmass and cast their votes, adding that from observation in previous elections voters’ apathy because of one problem or the other.”Another reason is the fear of people that there may be violence but the security agents have assured us that there will beHe said people must have candidates of their choice, the must not sit on the fenceHe spoke against peddling of rumors and involving in hate speech because they are the things that add fuel to a lot of crises during election.”NOA has put a platform in place to report such things, we have empowered our Local government officers all around the country to report all the on the spot occurrences that they may be having during election so that wr can counter the issue of fake news”He advised against peddling of rummours of violence adopted from the social media which most of the times are not trueChairman Jabi Timber Market Association Sunday Okafor said they were very happy with the sensitization by the National Orientation Agency.He said for some of them, this is the first time they are going to vote.”Since I was born I have never voted but this time around I say no, I must be participate to bring about a new NigeriaI have learned from today’s awareness that coming Saturday We should know our polling unit and we have to be calm and that if go there and misbehave security will pick those found to be creating violence. That there should be nothing like moving around aimlessly but straight to the polling units to vote”They have also thought us how to vote and I have learnt how to vote so that it will not be an invalid vote. “The executive director IKID Foundation Dr. Mer Best said the foundation is interested in making its program to reach the downtrodden at the last mile of the society saying one of the things they found out is that election is one of the key components to improving livelihood of the last man.
“One of the reason why we are here at the market is to reach the last man and then sensitize them to come out to vote on the day of election. They have gone out, they have collected, they are ready to cast their bmvotes for their choice.