Resolve Issues of Voters Apathy; Experts Tell OGSIEC

Participants at the Senior Executive Course 44 of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Jos have advised the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission, OGSIEC, to resolve the issue of voters apathy during it’s elections.

 The participants including Dr. Deborah Halima and Mr. Ibrahim Tabuwa while speaking during a visit to the state headquarters of OGSIEC implored the Electoral Commission to address challenges of voters’ apathy, perception of voters, access of local and international observers to election results, among others.

Captain Umaru Saidu, in his view said the role of election in any democratic process was critical and more efforts should be put in place to strengthen the process.

Earlier, the Chairman of Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission, OGSIEC, Mr Babatunde Osibodu while addressing the participants said voter’s apathy poses a great challenge to Local Government elections.

Mr. Osibodu during the interactive session with the  Course 44 participants explained that ‘’citizens would always come out to exercise their franchise when they begin to feel the direct impact of the functions and activities of their Local Government chairmen in their areas.

Speaking on the theme, “Strengthening Local Government in Nigeria: Challenges, Options and Opportunities, the Chairman noted that out of 1.6 million voter’s that registered in the State, only about 372,000, representing about 22.88 percent voted during the 2021 LG Elections.

 He said Ogun was among the few States with the highest number of voters as against 15 percent recorded in so many States of the federation, noting that voter’s apathy still remained a threat across the federation, as voters needed to be sensitised more on elections and electioneering process.

Mr. Osibodu added that there was a need to embrace digital voting system during elections, as it would help avert rigging, reduce waiting time in counting election results, reduce voter’s errors and alterations of transmitted results.

The OGSIEC Chairman admonished youths to shun electoral thuggery and avoid been used by the politicians to snatch ballot boxes.

Wale Oluokun