The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has embarked on partnership with the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) to educate drivers on proper voting process.
The agency said the effort is geared towards reducing high cases of voided votes ahead of the 2019 general elections.
Speaking at a public awareness campaign at the Sokoto Central Motor Park on Tuesday, the NOA Director in Sokoto State, Alhaji Maude Danchadi noted that the aim was to avoid the the high cases of voided votes recorded during the 2015 elections.
Danchadi urged other stakeholders in the community to educate people on proper voting pattern especially in the rural areas.
He emphasised the need for increased stakeholders’ partnership to enlighten voters on proper voting, to ensure that their votes count.
“The cause of rejected votes has been attributed to lack of adequate continuous voter education especially in the rural areas by political parties and other stakeholders.
This is why NOA mobilised its workers across the 774 local government areas in the federation to educate people on reducing challenges of voided votes, peaceful conduct of elections and dangers of vote buying,’’ the director said.
According to him, necessary measures have been designed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other stakeholders to ensure that all votes count.
He assured that the government, security agencies and all relevant organisations are ready for peaceful conduct of elections and urged the electorate to adhere to regulations.
Also, Mr Ahmad Musa, the representative of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Sokoto State, assured that adequate arrangements have been made for sensitisation as well as smooth conduct of elections.
Musa demonstrated to the participants, all the stages of proper voting and ways that rendered votes invalid.
He also urged the electorate to collect their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) from their respective wards as distribution had commenced at wards levels, to ensure mass collection.
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Responding, the Deputy Chairman of Sokoto State NURTW, Alhaji Ahmad Danmalam assured of the union’s cooperation on sensitising voters within its domain.
He also said the union will play efficient role in the transportation of personnel and election materials. Adding that the NURTW has been a long partner of INEC on election duties.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that representatives of security agencies, women and youths groups as well as NGOs also demonstrated their different roles in an election. (NAN)
