The National Orientation Agency, NOA, has urged eligible voters in Ekiti State to reject voter apathy, vote-buying, and election violence as preparations for the governorship election intensify.
Director-General of the Agency, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, made the appeal on Wednesday at a one-day town hall engagement on voter education and sensitisation organised by the Ekiti State office in Ado-Ekiti. He was represented by the South-West Coordinator, Mr. Kehinde Ogunkuade.
Issa-Onilu said the engagement focused on three areas: campaign against voter apathy, campaign against vote-buying or vote-trading, and campaign against election violence. He lamented that voter apathy continues to undermine democratic governance in Nigeria.
“Many citizens have become discouraged and now believe that their votes will not count. Some others have lost confidence in governance and therefore choose to stay away from elections,” he said.
He urged Ekiti voters to reject the notion that votes do not count. “Voting is not merely a political activity. It is a civic responsibility. I urge all eligible voters to come out peacefully on election day and exercise their constitutional rights,” he said.
The NOA DG also admonished political actors to accept election results in good faith and avoid a do-or-die approach. He said peaceful conduct before, during, and after the election would strengthen democratic institutions and preserve the integrity of the process.
Issa-Onilu said security agencies were ready to prevent any undemocratic actions capable of disrupting the election. He appealed to parents not to allow their children to be used as political thugs.
Ekiti State Director of NOA, Mrs. Kemi Akomolede, said democracy works when citizens understand it. “A vote is not just a paper, but a thumbprint. It represents your voice, your power, and your right to choose leaders who will shape and develop our country,” she said.
Akomolede said the Director-General had mandated the stakeholders’ engagement to ensure Ekiti citizens are informed about exercising their civic rights in an atmosphere free of rancour, manipulation, and violence. She urged voters to shun vote-buying so they do not mortgage their future and that of the state.
Director-General of Ekiti State Civic Orientation, Mrs. Olawunmi Famuyiwa, noted that INEC’s voters’ register did not show an encouraging number of registered voters. She, however, said it was fundamental for registered voters to turn out in large numbers on election day.
The event was attended by security agencies, religious and traditional leaders, market men and women, trade unions, students, media, political parties, the IPAC chairman, and other members of the public.
