The United Nations Electoral Needs Assessment Mission has expressed concern over increasing voter apathy in Nigeria.
Consequently, the global body said it is ready to offer technical assistance to support the successful conduct of Nigeria’s general elections next year.
The UN body stated this during a meeting with the 18 registered political parties under the aegis of Inter Party Advisory Council, IPAC led by Mr Serge Gakwandi Kubwimana, as head of mission.
Members of the delegation include Pascole Roussy, Electoral Officer, UNEAD, New York, Sare Knoope, Electoral Expert, UNDP, Brussels, Belgium, Jean Francis Jolepoko, Deputy Director, West Africa, Department of Political Affairs, New York, USA and Serge Nanouron, Electoral Officer, UN Office for West Africa and Sahel, Dakar Senegal.
Kubwimana explained that the UN Electoral Needs Assessment Mission renders technical assistance by strengthening the capacity of the relevant organs for the election.
He explained that the delegation was in Nigeria to assess the level of preparations for next year’s election and the areas the UN Electoral Needs Assessment Mission would provide support.
While noting that Nigeria was quite experienced in electoral matters and had introduced some reforms in the electoral process, he expressed concern over the lower level of voter participation in previous elections in the country.
Responding, Addressing the the National Secretary of IPAC, Alhaji Yusuf Dantalle said the Council will need the assistance of the UN Electoral Needs Assistance Mission in capacity building of political party leaders to equip them for transformational leadership and enhance parties’ internal recruitment process which will produce credible leaders with the people’s mandate to govern.
Dantalle, who stood in for the National Chairman of IPAC also said the Council will embark on massive sensitization, advocacy, enlightenment and mobilization of the electorate at grassroots level across the country.
He said free, fair, credible, transparent, inclusive, peaceful and acceptable elections are the beauty and bedrock of democracy.
On the rising level of voter apathy in the country, Dantelle said, “To sustain the gains of the recent electoral reforms, IPAC will need the assistance of the UN Electoral Needs Assistance Mission in capacity building of political party leaders to equip us for transformational leadership and enhance parties’ internal recruitment process which will produce credible leaders with the people’s mandate to govern.
“To ensure active participation of the populace in the forthcoming elections, IPAC will embark on massive sensitization, advocacy, enlightenment and mobilization of the electorate at grassroots level across the country.
“This will require intensive publicity which includes adverts on radio, television, newspapers and printing of fliers that will also be translated into various local languages to educate the masses on the need to actively participate in the elections and the danger of vote buying and selling that will mortgage their destinies if wrong people are voted into offices.”
