CYRIL MBAH, Abuja
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, has highlighted a significant issue contributing to low voter turnout in Nigeria’s elections, pointing to the disenfranchisement of thousands of eligible voters, who serve as INEC ad-hoc staff, security personnel, and election observers.
Speaking at a meeting with INEC and political party leaders, particularly chairmen and secretaries of political parties at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) National Headquarters in Abuja, Yilwatda described the affected individuals as “silent casualties” of Nigeria’s polls, who are also unable to cast their votes due to their roles in safeguarding the election process.
The APC chief stressed that this contradiction calls for urgent policy reflection, particularly the introduction of early voting, and proper compensation to ensure that qualified citizens are not excluded from the ballot by virtue of serving their country.
Yilwatda concluded by stating that Nigeria must balance inclusivity, credibility, cost, and culture to strengthen its democracy and ensure that no citizen is excluded from the ballot by virtue of service to the country.
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, responded by saying that while early voting had been considered, it raises operational and cultural concerns, including fears of vote manipulation and loss of public trust.
Amupitan noted that Nigerians are interested in real-time voting and counting, adding that adopting early voting may be challenging without a culture of absolute public confidence in the system.
The INEC Chairman also highlighted the heavy financial implications of conducting elections in a single day nationwide, stating that it would require almost double the electoral materials and increasing costs.
Meanwhile, the Turaki-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has protested its exclusion from the INEC meeting but it called on its members to remain calm and hopeful that the ongoing court battle between it and the Wike-led faction of the party will turn out successfully it its favour.
Reacting to the exclusion of the party in a statement, National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong Essien said: “We are aware that the Independent National Electoral Commission invited the leaders of political parties to a meeting today (Thursday) and extended the invitation to former members of our party who are purporting to lead a so-called National Caretaker Committee, to represent our party, whereas there is no such provision in our constitution.
“This action (by INEC), though ordinarily vexatious and capable of causing widespread breach of peace, will be met with all possible legal response. Though not unexpected of this current INEC leadership, but it is expected that an impartial umpire would have taken notice of the pendency of the matters in the Court of Appeal (including the judgment which they are relying upon), which when decided, will effectively affect the subject under consideration; and exercise restraint, therefore. We can assure that INEC will not choose a leadership for our party.
“Consequently, we urge all our members to remain calm and hopeful that soonest the Court of Appeal will hear and determine all the cases concerning the leadership of our party.
“We assure that the Rebirth Movement of our party, under the able leadership of Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN is steady and secure, and will ultimately surmount all these challenges, to present a stronger and more united party to Nigerians, as a credible alternative to the ruling party that has brought untold sorrows, tears and blood to Nigerians.”
For a better society
Follow us across our platforms:
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/championnewsonline/
Facebook – https://web.facebook.com/championnewsonline
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/champion-newspapers-limited/
https://x.com/championnewsng/
You can also like and comment on our YouTube videos.
https://youtu.be/QIBfD1tT80w?si=R4Qf3so2LxYu3GC2
