The Executive Director, OJA Development Consult and a public affairs analyst Jide Ojo in an attempt to proffers solution to voters’ apathy in Nigeria has said that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) can actually help voters to come out and vote enmasse in the 2023 general elections as well as the subsequent ones.
Ojo, who was a panelist in a Strategic Forum organised by National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) aimed at integrating human rights into the 2023 electoral process on Thursday in Abuja identified some factors that have held voters down in Nigeria from actively participating in the voting process in an election thereby infringing on their rights to vote in an election.
He said, about five millions Nigerians who are essential workers during elections are often disenfranchise, because of no early voting system in the country compare to the likes of USA, Kenya and many other democratic nation’s around the world.
According to him, “During election, those working in the media does not vote, INEC staff, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs) who are accredited to monitor elections and the Security Agencies who are on election’s duties, all together about five million Nigerians ab-initio are disenfranchise from voting because of no early voting system.”
Ojo insisted that on less there is a system where those on election duties can vote ahead of time, there’s no how alot of them won’t keep being disenfranchise on every elections including the 2023 general elections.
He noted that why polling units must completely be taking away from traditional rulers’ premises and parties’ stallwards’ compounds INEC should enlighten and inform the electorates on time where they are going to be voting 8n the 2023 general elections (ie where their new polling units are) because failure to do so on time will definitely hinders alot of persons from voting
Ojo, pointed out that the only way INEC can allow many Nigerians who register to vote in the 2023 general elections is by creating multiple voting units and also carry out an enlightenment program aimed at educating and informing the electorates the position of the polling units they are to cast their votes.
“This, he said will help electorates to know their new polling units since the commission is jettison away the idea of mounting polling units in traditional rulers’ premises and others.He also said, INEC should ensure secrecy of ballot papers as well as assist voters in collecting their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) instead of creating a barrier for PVC’s collection.
On the aspect of voters registration, Ojo said, since people are turning adults on a daily basis, voters registration should also be allow to role on or make sure persons who are about to turn a 18 few months to elections are allow to register at 17 so that they won’t be disenfranchise when they turn 18 few weeks to the election.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Tony Ojukwu (SAN) had said Free, Fair and Credible Elections are key tenets of a democratic system of governance. The right to participate in the governance process including the right to vote and to stand for elections is central to a democracy.
He noted, “This principle is emphasized by Article 21 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Section 14(2)(c) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended. Elections are germane in creating an enabling environment for the fulfilment of human rights. It has been recognized by the United Nations that the right to vote and be elected is interwoven with the enjoyment of a plethora of other key human rights which include the right to freedom of association, right to peaceful assembly, right to freedom of movement, right to freedom of information and the right to freedom of opinion and expression.
“Since 1999 when Nigeria began its current democratic voyage, the NHRC has been playing a fundamental role in advancing Nigeria’s democracy through the development of programmes aimed at integrating human rights into the electoral process and supporting democratic institutions and election management bodies to deliver on their mandates. “The Commission’s role in this regard is founded on the recognition of the importance of the consolidation of democracy in the realization of all human rights in Nigeria. To put it succinctly, the fulfilment and enjoyment of human rights are critical cannons of a properly functioning democratic system as a thriving democracy provides an enabling environment for human rights to thrive,” he said.
