VOTER REGISTRATION: SOUTH EAST ZONE URGED TO PARTICIPATE EFFECTIVELY IN THE EXERCISE

The people of the South East Zone are advised to take advantage of the ongoing continuous voter registration across the country and get registered.

This is to enable them to elect leaders of their choice during elections and also ensure good governance. Resource persons on Democracy in Action, a Radio Nigeria Enugu Current Affairs Programme gave the advice. The Enugu State Director, National Orientation Agency, NOA, Mr. Isaac Onukwube blamed the lack of interest in previous exercises on the seeming loss of confidence of Nigerians on the democratic process.

Mr. Onukwube reminded the people that politics was a game of numbers.

“If for instance in an election simply because not many people came out to register  for election, and there is low turnout of voters, it won’t cancel the election, what it simply means is that few people  have come out to take decision for a large number of people. The implication therefore is that you are likely to elect very poor leaders who will in turn give you bad governance.”

Also the Leader of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Mr. IkechukwuEzugwu noted that massive participation in the voter registration would enable the people to elect credible leaders.

“Without registering one will not be able to participate in any election, one will not be able to elect his or her person of choice. If you do not elect the right people , by the time they start rolling out policies it will affect everybody.”

The Traditional Ruler of Ibagwa Nike in Enugu East Local Government Area of Enugu State, Igwe Emmanuel Ugwu stressed the need for custodians of culture to mobilize their subjects for the exercise. IgweUgwu advocated a government policy that would make the Permanent Voter’s Card, PVC a mandatory requirement for obtaining essential services in the country.

“ Government should put a leadership policy that will force one to have that card. The moment is a government policy, if you are in a bank to collect money they say where is your voter’s card. If you want to enter school, they say where is your voter’s card.”

The respondents maintained that the voter registration was one exercise Nigerians should not take for granted.

NNEKA UGWUANYI