September 17, 2024

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Politics

Bobai, Jisalo’s former aide, seeks to replace late Rep. Ekene

Kene

By Ezra Musa

Mr Francis Bobai, former Special Assistant to special duties minister Joseph Jisalo, when he was Abuja Municipal Area Council’s Chairman, has declared interest in the Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency seat.

The seat became vacant following the demise of Mr Adams Ekene in July.

Ekene had won the election on the ticket of the Labour Party (LP), flooring PDP’s Yakubu Barde that occupied the seat for 20 years.

Ekene, widely believed to have achieved much within the one year that he served, died after a brief sickness.

Bobai, who is seeking the ticket of late Ekene’s party, the LP, to take his place, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna on Monday,  that he had a big advantage over his rivals both in, and outside the LP.

“I believe I am the viable candidate. I can deliver.

“We worked closely with Ekene, so, when we lost him, some youth and elders’ groups pleaded with me to contest the seat so as to sustain his many legacies. We shared our dreams of service to the nation together.”

Bobai, a former teacher, Real Estate dealer and philanthropist, said he had given a lot in the area of sports, support to religious bodies and care for the youths and elderly.

He identified the concerns of the constituents to include lack of development and insecurity.

He said that his focus is the empowerment of the youths to make them self-reliant, take them off the streets and make them assets to the society.

“I have been empowering  many youths and even empowered 100 women to start off businesses that are flourishing.

“I am doing this on my own. I intend to do much more if elected to serve the people,” he said.

Bobai said that the LP had a wide acceptance because the people had tried both the APC and PDP and were disappointed year after year.

“The Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency seat, for instance, has been occupied by Yakubu  Barde of the PDP for 20, but the people did not see any impact.

“But, in his few months at the National Assembly, Ekene did so much and that is what is helping us as a party.”

He listed Ekene’s projects to include solar light projects, school construction and the provision of electricity transformers to the constituents.

“So, generally, the people empathise with the LP for such massive loss and want to vote whoever the party presents,” he said.

He said that some of his rivals for the LP ticket were being sponsored by opponents to ensure the right candidate did not pick up the ticket.

“Apparently, they want to weaken the LP and destroy the opposition, but we won’t allow that,” he said.

He cautioned the APC against seeking to use money to buy votes and influence officials, declaring that the youths would resist that.

“The youths know these antics and are ready to protect votes the way they did for Ekene.

“The factors that worked for Ekene will favour me even more.

“The APC and PDP, no one likes them. They could try to use underhand tactics, but those games are already known and shall be stiffly resisted,” he said.

Bobai emphasised the need to empower the youths to make them self-reliant, take them off the streets and make them assets to the society.

“Only the LP can do that. We do not want another political party to come and destroy the scorecard and legacies we are building for the people and society,” he said.

He also stressed the need to support the LP to complete Ekene’s tenure “especially when it has been widely acknowledged that he performed excellently”.

The aspirant listed five areas he said would be his focus, with the completion of projects Ekene started as the prime agenda.

Other areas included youth empowerment and support for the aged, especially with  a monthly stipend for food and medicine.

He also promised to support the farming population with fertiliser and provide micro scheme loans for the women.

Bobai said he would partner with the Kaduna State Government to provide security, especially for vulnerable persons that had become victims of attacks.

He expressed confidence  that he would pick the LP ticket and win the secondary election in view of his general acceptance in the community where he was born 45 years ago.(NAN)

Edited by Philip Yatai

Politics

LP’s leadership feud a family issue soon to be resolved – Bobai

By Ezra Musa

Mr Francis Bobai, an aspirant to the Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency seat, has said that the leadership feud in the Labour Party (LP), is a family issue that would soon be resolved.

Bobai, former Special Assistant to Mr Joseph Jissalo, special duties and inter-governmental affairs minister, expressed the optimism in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Monday in Kaduna.

NAN reports that the party has been embroiled in a crisis that has torn it into various factions.

At a recent meeting in Umuahia, the party set up a 29-member caretaker committee with former finance minister Nenadi Usman as Chairperson.

The 29-member committee has been rejected by a group in the party that feels that officials of the party at all levels still have subsisting tenures.

But Bobai, who is seeking the party’s ticket to contest the House of Representatives seat that became vacant with the death of Adams Ekene, told NAN that the feud would soon be resolved.

“The party is working toward uniting all contending interests; we all should see the need for one strong, cohesive and indivisible force.

“We should all realise that we are better together and that we need each other to form a strong force capable of winning elections which is the sole goal of a political party.

“The party has factions, but its members in all the factions know that we cannot win any election if we are divided.

“We all know that a house divided against itself is bound to fail. We do not want to fail,” he said.

The aspirant described the LP as “the most popular political party in the country”.

“LP is well loved by all Nigerians. Having tested the two other political parties – PDP and APC – Nigerians generally see the LP as the only group with the zeal and integrity to make a difference.

“It is this popularity that our political rivals are jittery over and that is why they are doing everything to infiltrate our ranks and cause confusion from within,” he said.

He said that the LP would surely retain the House of Representatives seat that became vacant with the demise of Ekene.

“The PDP had held that seat for 24 years with nothing to show for it.

“Nigerians decided to try the APC both at the state and federal government levels, but they all realised that both political parties had nothing.

“That was the thrust of Ekene’s campaign and that was what gave him victory.

“What I want is the opportunity to continue Ekene’s legacies. I want to continue where he stopped.

“From my interactions with the voters, they empathise with the LP. They are filled with anguish over the loss of the brilliant lawmaker from the LP stable.

“So, they have vowed to replace Ekene with another LP candidate.

“That is why I am in the race. It is all about sustaining and consolidating on the LP legacies to the people.

“And that is why I want the LP to fight together and win together.

“We need this unity more than ever before.

“Nigerians love and trust us. We cannot afford to let them down.

“We must fight together and win together,” he declared. (NAN)

Edited by Philip Yatai

Politics

Members of now-defunct APC women campaign council seek recognition in Tinubu’s government

By Dorcas Jonah

Members of the now-defunct All Progressives Congress (APC) Women Campaign Council want President Bola Tinubu to appoint some of them into positions of authority to ensure inclusivity in his government.

Elizabeth Otunbalogun, spokesperson of the group, told newsmen in Abuja that their being given appointment was necessary as a matter of fairness and also to foster trust in the people.

“The 2023 elections may have come and gone and we in the APC are beneficiaries as a party, but as women of the defunct Campaign Council, we are not beneficiaries.

“We are very sad with the shift in appointments by President Tinubu which has ignored us.

“We demand that the President look into the defunct APC Campaign Council and pick women to fill the 18 per cent deficit in the appointments made so far.

“This will ensure a correction of the anomaly in future appointments for women participation in governance in Nigeria,” she said.

Otunbalogun further said the defunct APC Women Campaign Council had pivotal persons that worked for the emergence of the President in 2023.

She said the women made themselves available through various groups and associations to galvanise support for the actualisation of the aspirations of President Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima.

The group spokesperson also wondered why their members were not appointed, in spite of their efforts to ensure victory for the APC.

“We went all out for the party and the presidential and vice-presidential candidates.

“What is our sin? What did we do wrong to warrant this level of ignominy?

“We are asking these questions because our research team has made scary findings on the level of abandonment suffered by members of the defunct Campaign Council,” she said.

Otunbalogun noted that President Tinubu had raised the hopes of women on May 29 in 2023.

”This was when he promised to increase our participation in governance to at least 35 per cent of all governmental positions.

“That promise as we expected was in line with the National Gender Policy (NGP) of 2006.

“This statement peaked the various assurances which the President and his wife, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, gave to the group before the elections.

“So, for him to commit to it in his inaugural speech was indeed pleasing to us as Nigerian women who worked for the party,” she said.

Otunbalogun pointed out that the appointment so far made by the President appeared not to represent this goal.

She said the cumulative appointments by the President since May 2023 stood at 12 per cent.

This, Otunbalogun said, does not reflect 50 per cent of the 35 per cent of the NGP of 2006 on inclusion.

”It fell flat of the expectations from us all.”

She then appealed to the President to reconsider his appointments to ensure that members of the defunct APC Women Campaign Council were adequately rewarded for their efforts.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Emmanuel Afonne

Politics

Politics: Tallen tasks INEC on favourable conditions to encourage more women

By Aderogba George

Mrs Pauline Tallen, former Minister of Women Affairs, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure favourable conditions that will encourage more women into politics.

Tallen stated this in Abuja, while speaking with newsmen on the sideline of the inauguration and unveiling of a book titled: “From Margins to Mainstream”.

The about 200 pages book was written by Princess Nikky Onyeri, a gender advocate, and  politician.

The former minister, who decried the low number of women in the political space, equally called on political parties in the country to also make their condition flexible, saying “this will encourage more women into politics.”

According to Tallen, there are countless numbers of women that can stand shoulder to shoulder with men when it comes to political issues, adding that better conditions must be given for this to happen.

She also called on women to come out en-masse to vote for the right candidates in the forthcoming Edo and Ondo elections.

“I feel so sad because the number of women that are giving tickets is not enough. It is just a little percent and this amounts to nothing. It is not that the women are not willing to come out, but they have not been given the support.

“We are calling on all our political parties; we are calling on INEC to make sure they give better conditions to encourage women for the betterment of the country.

The former minister appreciated President Bola Tinubu for carrying along more women in his government, adding that more was still needed to realise gender equality.

Tallen also commended the First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, whom she said is doing a lot to support and encourage women through her pet project.

She said that the first lady was doing so much in the area of empowerment of the youth as well as giving scholarships to children.

Speaking on the book, Tallen said: “The presentation speaks volume because women are doing so much. It is the women that nurture the home, ensuring that both the husband and children are in sound health.

“There are a lot of responsibilities that lie in the women. They make sure the homes are in the right balance, yet it is never noticed. By the time you take a look at this book, you will appreciate women,” Tallen said.

On her part, Onyeri said that she was inspired to write the book based on the struggle she had seen by women groups in the last 30 years, and she had since then continued to support women emancipation.

Onyeri, a breast cancer survivor said that she was part of protesters to the National Assembly in 2023, who called for passage of five gender bills, but unfortunately the bills were not passed, and this also spurred her to write the book.

“I look at the past, the present and the future of where our hope lies as women, and where we want to be. This thinking has brought me to where I am today and I am glad about that.

“I wrote the book from my own perspective, and I hope it will give people a cause to think about women and embrace them. I also hope the book will promote literacy.

“We are going to be donating books around the country from the fund we will raise from the inauguration of this book so that more people can know what gender is all about, we assume that many people do not know about it.”

According to Onyeri, we will also be creating endowment funds for gender studies in the universities, these are the two key projects that will be achieved after this book launch,” she said. .

Mrs Moji Makanjuola, also a gender advocate and a public speaker, commended the author of the book, adding that she had waged war against cancer, and a speaker for person’s with cancer.

According to her, women must hold each other’s hand, and stop impoverishing themselves, but must work towards developing themselves.

Igwe Simon Ikechukwu, the Chairman, Enugu State Council of Traditional Rulers, said that the call for gender inclusiveness should not be limited to Nigeria only, but should be made global.

The Igwe commended the author of the book for coming up with such write-ups, while calling on the men folks to stop violence against women.

The highlight of the occasion was the conferment of award of excellence on individuals that have distinguished themselves in human endeavours.

They include Mr Bernard Igwe, the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, and Ikechuckwu among others.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the occasion was attended by dignitaries from both the private and government sector. (NAN)

Edited by Ese E. Eniola Williams

Politics

Kogi: Ododo hails Supreme Court judgment

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

Gov. Usman Ododo of Kogi has commended the Supreme Court judgment, which affirmed his election as governor of the state, describing the court as the last hope of the common man.

Ododo, while addressing journalists in Abuja after the judgment on Friday, hailed the apex court for withstanding intimidation and upholding the wish of the people of the state.

“I feel elated not just because of our victory but about how the judiciary held on to the point of law and ensured justice in this matter. The judiciary remains the last hope of the common man.

“They were threatened, they were called names, they were intimidated, but they have held onto the point of law.

“This victory is not about me but for the people who trooped out on Nov. 11, 2023 to vote,” Ododo said.

He also dedicated his victory to God Almighty and President Bola Tinubu for his commitment to strengthening the judiciary to perform its duties without fear or favour.

Fielding questions from journalists on his expectation before the judgment, Ododo said there was nothing to be afraid of because he won the election.

“The election was conducted credibly and transparently. In the history of Kogi, it was the most peaceful election, and we won,” he said.

Ododo added that in spite of the litigation, his team was not distracted from delivering good governance to the people of Kogi.

“I was elected as the chief servant of the state to serve the people, and as such, my team and I remain committed to the reason why we were elected, so it has never distracted me,” he said.

He, however, extended an olive branch to opposition parties and their candidates, especially Murtala Ajaka of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Dino Melaye of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He urged the opposition candidates to work with him to move Kogi forward.

“We have always extended the olive branch to them to join us to move Kogi forward.

“Kogi remains our state, and we want to come together to discuss the affairs of the state.

“It is not a personal fight; it is a contestation to hold power on behalf of the people, to serve them.

“It is not proper to stop a child from coming to his house. Our philosophy is to build the APC to win the election,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chioma Ugboma and Abiemwense Moru

Politics

Kaduna council polls: Dogara emerges APC candidate for Jema’a LGA

Mr Peter Dogara has emerged as the chairmanship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the State Independent Electoral Commission has fixed Oct. 19 for the council polls in the state.
Delegates from the 12 wards of council affirmed the nomination of Dogara as the party’s candidate through a voice vote at a congress held in Kafanchan.
Alhaji Rilwanu Abdullahi, the Chairman of the Congress Committee, commended the members of the party for their peaceful conduct throughout the exercise.
Abdullahi said that the smooth and seamless process that produced Dogara was a pointer to the victory for the party in the forthcoming elections.
He advised the candidate to carry everyone along during the campaign to guarantee his success.
Accepting his nomination, Dogara thanked the party members for the confidence reposed on him, assuring that he would not let them down.
He promised to execute people-oriented projects if elected into office and solicited for the support of the electorate in the area.
Earlier, Jema’a APC Chairman, Alhaji Ibrahim Koli, described the candidate as a grassroots politician whose pedigree would translate to an overwhelming victory for the party at the polls.
He called on those who lost out during the selection process to join hands with the candidate and work for the success of the party. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Maureen Ojinaka/Bashir Rabe Mani
Politics

Tinubu determined to address youths’ problems – Shettima

By Salisu Sani-Idris

Vice-President Kashim Shettima on Friday reiterated President Bola Tinubu’s determination to address, support and empower more Nigerian youths to excel in their careers.

Shettima said this when he received the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) youth wing in Abuja.

The wing was led by the party’s National Youth Leader, Mr Dayo Israel, during the visit.

He said Tinubu holds Nigerian youths in high esteem, adding that his commitment was evident in his appointments and the administration’s policies and initiatives.

Shettima said some of the initiatives are the Youth Investment Fund, Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (iDICE) programme, and the National Youth Development Bank.

He added that apart from addressing genuine concerns affecting the youths, the administration’s focus on young persons was premised on the trust and confidence Tinubu has in them.

He explained that “the youths are the lifeblood of any nation and Mr President acknowledges this fact.

“I want to assure you that President Bola Tinubu has the best interest of the youths at heart.

“Tinubu has demonstrated this in most of the programmes that this administration is doing and has undertaken to do.”

The vice-president further expressed confidence in the ability of the present administration to address all concerns raised across different quarters.

He appealed for more time for the government’s plans and programmes to begin to manifest and commended the leadership of the APC youth wing for the commitment and patience.

Shettima gave the assurance that all the group’s requests would be addressed in due course.

Earlier, the APC National Youth Leader had thanked the vice-president “for the love and commitment to the affairs of young people in the country.”

He informed Shettima of the body’s programmes aimed at engaging youths in the country, regardless of their socio-political backgrounds.

According to him, the APC Youth Wing has developed a four-year strategic plan to help young Nigerians to understand and overcome challenges.

The plan, he said, would also help the younger generation to harness opportunities across diverse fields within and outside the country.

He listed the Enterprise-Skills Development Training (EDET) Programme, Workplace Readiness and Employability Skills Training Programme (WREST-P), among others, as some of the initiatives to engage youths across the country.

Israel also requested the presence of the vice-president at the forthcoming Progressive Youth Leadership Summit with the theme “Shaping the Future We Want: Restiveness, Inclusion, Development, Action.” (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

Politics

Broadcast: Tinubu hasn’t disappointed Nigerians – Okupe

By Adeyemi Adeleye

A former Presidential Spokesperson, Dr Doyin Okupe, says President Bola Tinubu has not disappointed Nigerians in his address to the nation on the nationwide protests on Sunday.

Okupe, a former Director-General of the Labour Party (LP) Presidential Campaign Council, made this remark in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, while reacting to the president’s broadcast.

“President Bola Tinubu’s speech has not disappointed Nigerians in that for the first time, the president clearly stated the daunting economic situation his administration met on ground at inception.

“He also amplified the strenuous efforts made by his government to reduce the prevailing crippling and stagnating debt servicing ratio from 97 per cent of earned revenue to 68 per cent.

“In truth, this has been the major cause of our present economic woes and sufferings.

“It is now self-evident that if the fuel subsidy was not removed, it would have been impossible for the government to function.

“And the government will not be able to meet its obligations, without continuing the profligacy of massive and sustained borrowing to fund the subsequent national budgets,” Okupe said.

According to him, the speech highlighted to Nigerians’ delight, the giant and commendable strides of achievements already accomplished by this administration within 14 months of its existence.

Okupe said: “Some of the most outstanding achievements of this administration, as contained in the speech, include “the more than doubling of the minimum wage from N30,000 to N70,000 per month.’’

He talked about Tinubu’s implementation and commitment of more than N45 billion to the students loan scheme and the raising of the national oil production capacity to more than 1.6 million barrels per day.

Okupe also highlighted the massive funding of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), which, he said, were the engine of economic growth of any country.

He commended the president for the provision of billions of Naira directly targeted at relieving the current hardship on the poor as well as the massive funding of various youths developmental programmes and projects.

Okupe also applauded the Federal Government for the huge investment deployed toward infrastructure and agriculture.

He said: “It is also worthy to note from the speech the government’s commitment to reduce the prevailing high cost of living and also bring down the food inflation.

“This is through the temporary massive importation of foods and removal of tariffs and other import duties on  foods, drugs and medical supplies, amongst others, for the next six months.

“I personally believe that this administration’s scorecard or performance compares very well if not better than those of many administrations before it.”

He said that the increased amount of funds that Tinubu’s administration had directly made available to the states and local governments must make Nigerians to look beyond the Federal Government.

Okupe said that Nigerians must make the sub-nationalities to be more accountable for the huge sum of revenue inflow they receive from the federation account and other Federal Government intervention funds.

“It is pertinent that we recognise that the Federal Government revenue is shared with 49 per cent going to the Federal Government while approximately 48 per cent goes to the states and local governments leaving some three per cent for ecological funds and derivation,” he said.

Okupe commended the president for recognising the rights of the Nigerian youths and indeed all citizens in general to protest.

He said: “It is also gratifying that the president publicly acknowledged that he has heard their demands loud and clear.’’

“I will therefore, with all humility enjoin our youths and the citizens at large to exercise patience and restraint and embrace the opportunity for dialogue which Mr President has offered.

“This long-awaited but endearing speech has rekindled our renewed hope for a brighter, better and prosperous future for all Nigerians.”

NAN reports that the president in his broadcast on Sunday on the nationwide protests reiterated his government’s commitment to addressing the concerns raised by citizens.

The president enjoined the protesters and the organisers to suspend further protests and create room for dialogue, which he said he had always acceded to at the slightest opportunity.

The protest, which started on Thursday, crippled socio-economic activities across states as motor parks, shops, malls, markets and roads were deserted.

The first day of the protest recorded violence and looting in some states like Niger, Kaduna, Jigawa, Abuja, amongst others.

The protest, planned to end on Aug. 10, is aimed at drawing the attention of the Federal Government to challenges faced by citizens. (NAN)

Edited by Benson Iziama/Adeleye Ajayi

Politics

Diaspora APC leaders urge youths to shun protest, give Tinubu time

Diaspora APC leaders urge youths to shun protest, give Tinubu time

By Adeyemi Adeleye
The All Progressives Congress Committee of Diaspora Chairmen (APC-CDC) has urged the youth to avoid any protest and give President Bola Tinubu time to address and resolve the nation’s current challenges effectively.

The CDC Secretary General and APC Spain Chairman, Prince Adeayo Tella, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Lagos that  Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda” for the masses would soon materialise.

Describing the proposed protest as unnecessary, Tella said that Nigerians needed to understand the President and give him a chance to prove himself to the masses.

“Let us work together as one to see a better Nigeria in no distant time.

“We must encourage the youth to shun violence because consequences of the protest might not be seen now but until when ventured into.

“The hoodlums might hijack it. Nigerians must give President Tinubu time to solve Nigeria’s problem.

“A year is not enough to repair the damage done over two decades,” the APC diaspora chieftain said.

Tella urged organisers of the protest not to forget the destruction as well as loss of lives and property in previous demonstrations, especially the 2020 Endsars protest.

“Let us give Tinubu rest of mind to fulfill his ‘Renewed Hope’ and promises to fix the country in no distant time,” Tella said.

There have been reports that some Nigerians, under various bodies, are planning a nationwide protest from Aug. 1 to Aug. 10, over the rising cost of living and economic hardships. (NAN)

Edited by Folasade Adeniran

Politics

Group unveils smartcard to track votes, checkmate election rigging

By Femi Ogunshola

The Consolidated Alliance for Grassroots Mobilisation (CAGraM), has launched a smart card to mobilise and track votes and curtail election rigging in the country.

Mr Nwosu Emmanuel, Executive Secretary of CAGraM, said this in Abuja at the unveiling, data capturing and issuance of membership smart cards to leaders on Thursday  in Abuja.

“Our target is to have between three to five million members on this platform by 2026, and by 2031, we will hit the target of 30 million, and with this, we will deliver the next president in 2031.

“This is a project that will never stop; it will expand across the country. What we have done today is to unveil the smartcard.

“We are going to deploy this throughout the state and the data capturing will take place at the state level down to the local governments,” he said.

He said that the group was only complimenting the Independent national Electoral Commission (INEC), and not taking over its role.

Emmanuel said that the initiative would help mobilise the people at the grassroots across the country.

He said that a situation where some sell their votes was unacceptable, adding that they were unaware of the damages they do to themselves.

He said that the smart card would also enable people at the grassroots to have access to democratic dividends, by being able to meet their representatives and place their demands.

“We want to challenge INEC by saying that the day integrity comes to our electoral process, the political class will be unbearable to the masses.

“With CAGraM  smart cards, the voice of the grassroots will now be heard loud and clear, and their votes will count at all elections,” he said.

Also speaking, Mr. Silas Agara, the Director -General of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), commended the group for leveraging technology to change the electoral process.

He was represented by Mr. Edmond Onwuriri, Director of Planning Research and Statistics at NDE.

“We are glad that Nigeria is leveraging technology to deal with our problems. We believe this will not be open to abuse, as those losing elections will not feel manipulated,`he said.

He said that the move would help deepen democracy as people would now regain confidence in the electoral process, as opposed to what was obtainable in the past years.

Mr. Yusuf Dantalle, Chairman, Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC), said the country had faced numerous challenges in an attempt to conduct free, fair, transparent and credible elections since 1960.

“In particular, are the past years of uninterrupted democracy. It is important to note the number of registered voters and turnouts in presidential elections from 1979 to 2023.

This, according to him, would underscore the urgent need for the mobilisation of eligible voters for elections in the country.

He said that the statistics showed a downward trend in voter turnout, particularly from the 2007 to 2023 presidential elections, adding that voter turnout in recent years has been glaring.

“In view of this, IPAC welcomes this innovation in grassroots voter mobilisation using smart cards and technology.

“We hope that the security of the personal data provided would be guaranteed as members’ voting patterns would be extracted from their permanent voter card linked to the device,”he said.

This, according to him, is because the electoral laws provide for the confidentiality of citizens’s votes cast.

CAGraM  is a political group focused on political and social emancipation of rural dwellers across the country, set to reinvent grassroots mobilisation through technology.(NAN)

Edited by Joseph Edeh

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