ADEQUATE EDUCATION WILL STOP VOID VOTES IN NIGERIA ELECTORAL SYSTEM, SAYS OYO ELECTORAL COMMISSIONER

The Commissioner who was represented by the Administrative Secretary of  the commission, David Asemo  pointed out that, void votes  has been affecting the total numbers of votes, stressing that it is time to make sure that every vote is count in our election.

Penpushing further reports that, Asemo noted that void votes are sometimes higher,  that could have determined the winner of an election if prevented.

“A vote is to express ones choice or opinion, void means non valid or legally banished, it could also means completely empty, adequate and consistent education is very important because most of the electorates are illiterates, a ballot is considered void if the electoral umpire realised that the vote is not cast in a proper way’.

He however said that the commission is preparing to conduct a free, fair and credible election, ‘and if we want our votes to be count, we should avoid void votes because the election of this year will be tremendous compare to what happened in 2015’.

“91 political parties are registered in Nigeria and 48 political parties are contesting in Oyo State, this sensitization should not only limited to INEC alone, political parties should also educate their members so that they can do the right thing”.

Penpushing also reports that, the Oyo State Director of National Orientation Agency (NOA) Dolapo Dosumu in her remark said that there is  need to raise public awareness on the need to avoid void votes and guide the electorates on how to make their votes count.

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) boss explained that the agency have reached out to all the stakeholders on the needs to sensitized the people on how to vote right so that their votes can be counted.

“Voters economic and social education will be better if this kind of program is put in place because the democracy of Nigeria is growing every day, there is an increased in the number of registered political parties in the country, as a patriotic Nigeria, let us make sure our vote is count by voting properly.

The Director pointed out that politicians should educate the people or their followers so as to know the symbols of the party they wanted to vote for, noting that most of these voters are illiterates who need adequate enlightenment on how to vote properly.

“Voters should get acquainted to the party logo they want to vote for, they must know that one thumbprint is for one ballot paper and it should be done in a space provided and the thumbprint ink should not get across to other side so that their vote will not be nullified.

Penpushing further reports that, she however urged the people to come out massively and vote without any fear or intimidation, affirming that their security is guaranteed.

The General Manager of Impact Business Radio, (IBR, Ibadan)  Femi Mapaderun who spoke  on the role of the media on how to avoid void votes said that the media is trying its best to educate and sensitized the people, but posited that bulk of the job relies on the political parties and their candidates.

He noted that some of the political parties have failed in discharging their duties by educating the people on how to vote so as to avoid void votes, adding that it is the responsibility of the parties to educate the electorate.

“Educating people to avoid void votes is the duty of politicians, instead of that, they ignored it and doing something else, illiteracy is another factors that cause void votes, as IBR we are trying all our best to help the people to vote rightly’.

Penpushing also reports that, Mapaderun pointed out that1.2 million votes were voided in 2015 during the Presidential election, stating that, out of 29 million votes in 2011, almost one million votes were voided as well.

He emphasized, “the parties have failed, and INEC cannot do it alone, the media will continue to do their best but the job relies on the parties”.