Ahead of the 2023 general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has solicited support from the media and other relevant stakeholders in the area of voter education as part of efforts to deepen democracy in Nigeria.
In line with the request by the nation’s electoral umpire, Deltans rallying under the Independent Grassroot Liberators on Thursday took the advocacy beyond media outlets with a match in Ogbe Ijoh headquarters of Warri South West Local Government Area to sensitize the electorates on the need for them to vote for candidates in the elections that are able to provide the needed leadership to would gender good governance in the country.
On Wednesday, October 19, 2022, the executive of INEC Press Corps (IPC) in Delta State was inaugurated by INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Rev. Monday Udoh, at the INEC Conference Hall in Asaba, the state capital.
The state INEC REC during the event appealed to journalists in the Commission’s Press Corps should engage the political parties, who are the beneficiaries of the Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) to be actively involved in encouraging and mobilizing their supporters to collect their PVCs.
For the Independent Grassroot Liberators, creating the needed awareness for the electorates to realise that their PVCs are a weapon for choosing the right leaders in the 2023 general elections is very central in the overall buildup to ensuring advancement in the nation’s electoral development.
Speaking to newsmen shortly after the peaceful sensitisation march through major routes in Ogbe Ijoh, The convener of the movement, Honourable Company Yerinbowei said that they carried out the sensitisation to the doorsteps of the people for them to be enlightened on the need to elect leaders that will attend to their development needs.
Honourable Company Yerinbowei said that the march also became necessary going by the way politicians after getting the votes of the electorates abandon them when they get into office.
He noted that the 2023 general election is not going to be business as usual where candidates of political parties neglect the people at the grassroots by interfacing with the leaders alone.
He further implored the electorates to refrain from vote-buying by politicians but only consider candidates whose manifestos are grassroots oriented.
Speaking in a similar vein, Ambassador Bene Mamamu, Comrade Kenneth Ebi-Ikoro, Comrade Clever Alokpa, Comrade Okosu Smart and others said enough is enough for politicians who neglect the electorates after giving them their mandates.
They called on the electorates to use their PVCs wisely by voting for candidates that have their interests at heart.
It is hoped that movements like this will make candidates of political parties seeking elective positions in the 2023 general elections turn a new leaf by attending to the grassroots when voted into power.