By Mmaduabuchi Onwumelu
The Executive Director of Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa, PAACA, Mr Ezenwa Nwangwu, has stressed the need for the public to arm themselves with the knowledge of the Electoral Act, noting that it is not an exclusive property of lawyers.
Mr Nwangwu who stated this while presenting a keynote address during the One-Day Citizens Town Hall Meeting held in Awka the Anambra State Capital, emphasized the importance of political education across board, even as he said it would help to the equip the voters ahead of future elections in Nigeria.
According to him, the town hall meeting was aimed at collating ideas and contributions from relevant stakeholders for improved electoral processes.
Nwangwu said it was few persons that had the Electoral Act, a document he observed, had been left as an exclusive property of lawyers.
He regretted non conduct of local government elections in most states in the Southeast.
The town hall meeting had as participants, representatives from Civil Society Organizations, Ohaneze Ndigbo, Anambra State Association of Town Union, ASATU and journalists.
In his remarks, the Anambra State Director of the National Orientation Agency, NOA, Mr Edozie Ajaegbu, noted that poor political culture, absence of internal party democracy, and electoral corruption had continued to undermine the ability of the electoral process to produce candidates who could effectively represent the aspirations and yearnings of Nigerians.
He however observed that since the return of democracy in 1999, Nigeria’s Electoral Process had progressively improved, judging by various factors, including citizens’ demands, Civil Society Organisations’ Advocacy, legislative reforms, credible leadership in INEC, and International support.
While commending PAACA for their bold initiative, Mr Ajaegbu, represented by Mr Ignatius Obiorah, called for partnership with other donor agencies to ensure that the goals of the town hall meeting were materialized, even as he assured PAACA and society of his readiness to support enthronement of genuine democratic process in Nigeria.
A former Commissioner for Women’s Affairs in Anambra State, Dr Ego Uzoezie, said it was disheartening that there were laws in Nigeria that encouraged women’s participation in the electoral process but it was only on paper and not in reality. She said they would keep pushing until it became a reality.
Speaking on how to allow Nigerian Youths to participate effectively in the electoral process, the President -General of ASATU Youth Wing, Comrade Ken Okoli, and another participant, Mr Israel Orji, said the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, should make the youths to believe in the system by making people’s votes count, saying that as another election year approached in Anambra, it was another time for INEC to redeem its image.
Group discussions and interactions featured during the meeting.
