Apathy

By David Adeoye

Ibadan

The Resident Electoral Commissioner(REC), Oyo State, Mr Adeniran Tella, says grassroots engagement is key to combat voter apathy and vote buying.

Tella stated this on Monday in Ibadan at the opening of a 4-day capacity building for Voter Education Desk Officers and Assistant Electoral Officers from Oyo, Ogun and Lagos States.

The REC also attributed the logistical challenges of reaching voters in both remote and urban areas as part of the threats to election credibility.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the workshop is “Grassroots Voter Education and Enlightenment.”

According to him, the credibility of the 2027 general election will not be determined solely by events on election day, but by how well citizens are educated in the months leading up to it.

“It is determined by how well the citizens understand their rights, their responsibilities and the processes that govern our democracy.

”Our response to these challenges cannot be business as usual. It requires innovation, dedication and a grassroots approach that leaves no community behind,” he said.

The REC expressed delight that Oyo State was hosting the participants from Ogun and Lagos, to equip them on how to carry out grassroots voter education and enlightenment ahead of the 2027 elections.

He asserted that if INEC fails to educate the grassroots, then it fails to secure the future of the nation’s democracy.

Tella noted that the 2027 elections would be a defining moment for the nation, noting that the eyes of the world would be on Nigeria.

He, therefore, charged participants to be the beacon of truth, accessible to the people by going to the markets, the motor parks, the schools, and the farms to enlighten electorate on their civic responsibility.

He also urged them to be strategic, by collaborating with civil society organisations, youth groups and women’s groups.

He further urged the participants to share experiences on tackling the urban-rural divide, stressing that the success of the 2027 general election rests heavily on their shoulders.

In his welcome address, Head of Department, Voter Education and Publicity, INEC Oyo, Mr Taliatu Adeagbo, said the training would provides an opportunity for the commission’s staff to strengthen their capacity and share experiences.

Adeagbo also said the training would make them to identify operational challenges and develop practical strategies for effective voter education and publicity.

He said the desk officers and assistant electoral officers are expected to translate the commission’s policies, guidelines and electoral information into clear, simple and accessible messages that would be understood by citizens at the grassroots.

He urged the participants to take the training seriously, participate actively in discussions and practical sessions and feel free to ask questions or seek clarification on issues that require further understanding.

He said the knowledge and skills acquired during the training should be taken back to their respective duty stations and translated into effective voter education activities.

“As we move towards future electoral activities, we must remain conscious of the importance of accuracy, neutrality, professionalism, accessibility and timeliness in all our voter education engagements.

“We must also guard against the dissemination of unverified information, saying every message issued on behalf of the commission must be factual, clear, non-partisan and consistent with approved guidelines,“ Adeagbo stated.

Three of the participants, Abimbola Afolabi, from Ogun state; Lawal Ayopo, from Lagos state; and Modupe Oguns, from Oyo state, promised to make use of the knowledge acquired at the training.

NAN also reports that 85 participants from Ogun, Lagos and the host state, Oyo are participating in the 4-day capacity building. (NAN)