Edo guber: INEC sensitizes young female voters in Edo

Mr Johnson Alalibo, the Edo INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), said during the awareness creation programme in Benin that the efforts was to ensure that the young female voters were actively involved in the electoral process.

Alalibo who was represented by the State INEC Administrative Secretary, Mr Etim Umoh, said the event was organized in collaboration with the European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES).

He said programme was designed to ensure that the young female voters were not disenfranchised and marginalized during the governorship election.

“This programme is designed to address the low participation of young female voters in the electoral process.

“This group constitutes a large percentage of voters who do not participate in the electoral process.

“It is our hope that after this awareness campaign, the young female voters will take their place in the electoral process”, he said.

According to Alalibo, INEC’s vision is to ensure that it continues to improve on the conduct of  free, fair and credible elections through transparent process acceptable to the people.

He urged the young female voters to  also carry out the enlightenment campaigns in their various neighbourhood.

“We would need you to also sanitise other youths on the fact that we are going to experience  some changes in the way we have been conducting elections because of the COVID-19 pandemic,” he added.

In his address, the Senior Project Officer,  European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES),  Mr Sylvestre Somo, said the EU was proud to be part of initiative which seek to mobilize energetic young female voters to be part of the electoral process.

“The youths constitute a significant segment of the total population and invariably  the voting population and many of the first time voters are the youths

“It is therefore important for the Nigerian youths to participate in the electoral process for a virile and vibrant democracy.

“Youths inclusiveness in the electoral process adds value to the attainment of democracy as the government of the people and for the people and holds the key to overcoming some of the negative features of the electoral process such as low turnout, election violence and vote buying.

“With the calibre  of participants drawn from grassroots gender-based organisations across the state,‎ I am confident that the youths of Edo State will ensure massive turnout during the governorship election and serve as agent of peaceful and non-violent election notwithstanding the pandemic situation”, Somo said.

He stated that it was hope that all the health measures  and safety protocols  will be observed to ensure that votes are cast in a safe environment.

Mr Blessing Obidiegwu, the Deputy Director, Gender Division, INEC, said analysis of previous elections showed low participation of young female in the process such as being voters, candidates and observers.