The National Orientation Agency (NOA) on Thursday engaged stakeholders in the September 21st governorship election. It said it was prepared to mobilise the people for the exercise and urged all participants to play by the rules.
The Stakeholders Forum had various security and para-military organizations in attendance, civil society groups, religious groups, representatives of political parties, the media and others in attendance.
According to the state Director of NOA, Barr Osahon Woghiren, there must be a focus on vote selling and vote buying, which he said is a “trending vice in our policy. The National Orientation Agency says ‘No ‘to this, and we must all work to eliminate it.”
He said citizens needed to be mobilized for active participation in the electoral process, encouraged to exercise their civic responsibilities, and discouraged from engaging in all forms of “violence, intimidation, voter apathy and harassment before, during and after the Governorship election.”
To foster citizens’ confidence in the electoral process and the democratic system, the NOA boss called on “Traditional and Religious leaders, Youths, Civil Societies, Market Women, Non-Governmental Organizations and others to mobilize our people, as the quest for a free and credible election in Edo State is essential for a viable and stable policy.
“The youths, in particular, must not allow themselves to be used by unpatriotic politicians to cause trouble or disrupt the elections.
He said the event would be replicated in all 18 Local Government Areas in Edo State, where the NOA field officers would mobilize citizens at the grassroots.
He noted that the Independent National Electoral Council (INEC) is committed to conducting a free, fair, and credible election in the state and that NOA will continue to advocate for and mobilize the electorates to exercise their civic responsibilities peacefully.
The Director General of NOA, Mallam Lanre Issa Onilu, represented by Ebeli Okonkwo, urged the voters in the state to come out and vote for the candidate of their choice.
“ The security agencies will protect you and ensure your security, and when you come out to vote, conduct yourself in an orderly manner, do not engage in violence, fighting or thuggery, no ballot box snatching; let us all ensure that we come out and make sure that you recognize the logo of your political party because it will help you make a good choice of who you want to vote for.”
INEC representative Dedekuma Emmanuel said the Commission was ready for the election, while the representative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Muhammed Abdulaziz, said the anti-graft agency would watch out for voter buyers and sellers.
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