Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua, who represents Katsina Central, has urged Nigerians to engage their political leaders on issues that will promote and strengthen democracy in the country.
The lawmaker gave this advice during a visit to the Ministry of Interior, where he engaged in advocacy and public enlightenment on the proposed bill he sponsored.
He explained that the bill on early voting which passed second reading at the Senate is to strengthen democratic system of Governance in the country.
Senator Abdulaziz added that the bill was designed to be inclusive of all the eligible voters, arguing that, many Nigerians are excluded from exercising their franchise which the bill seeks to address particularly the challenge of electoral process during general election.
The lawmaker said Nigerians need to express their grievances and concerns to those who govern them and contribute on the way forward through casting their votes to credible candidates of their choice.
‘Yaradua maintained that the bill would address two million Nigerians who are eligible to vote and exercise their civic right by electing their leaders, but were not participating in the election due to ad – hoc and other services on election day.
Giving the statistical data, the lawmaker said Over 1 million Ad-hoc staff do not participate in the election, these include more than 310 thousand
police personnel, 93,495 Military and Department of State Service (DSS) Personnel, 51,000 Personnel from the National Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), 21,000 from the Federal Road Safety Corps, and 11,336 from the Nigeria Correctional Service.
He also said over 9,000 from the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency and 350 Personnel from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC are not using their franchise
Senator ‘Yaradua further said In addition to this 144,800 Observers deployed by 196 nationals and domestic organisations were also unable to vote.
He argued that if this huge population is being disenfranchised in the general election there would be no way we can have credible election in our electoral process, advocating that eligible individuals, including security personnel, electoral officials, and those deemed eligible by the commission, must apply 30 days before the early voting date.
The Senator further stated that Several African countries, including South Africa, Namibia, Ghana, and Senegal, have successfully implemented early voting, resulting in higher voter turnout rates.
“By adopting early voting, Nigeria can establish a more inclusive, efficient, and secure electoral process that better serves the interests of all Nigerians”.
Representative of Samson Itodo of Yiaga Africa, Cynthia Mbamalu, disclosed that the bill was totally supported by their organization as it seeks to address critical issues in the electoral process.
Mbamalu stated that ” if the country that is about two hundred million and over two million voters are being disenfranchised there will be no way for credible election”.
Also the Minister of Interior alluded that this initiative is an indictment on our side that some of us who have been in the National Assembly for some time did not think of this disenfranchisement for correction before now.
COV/Bashir M
