Abuja – Prof. Jacob Jatau, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has charged women in the territory to be agents of change in the electoral process.
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commission’s daily bulletin issued on Tuesday in Abuja, said Jatau made the call at a sensitisation forum on “Voter Education for Women’’.
According to the bulletin, Jatau was represented by INEC’s Deputy Director, Legal in the FCT, Hajiya Mariam Damisa, at the forum organised by the commission with support from the International Foundation on Electoral Systems (IFES).
He encouraged women to report any negative actions during the council elections in the territory shifted from March 19 to April 9, to security agents or INEC officials.
“Women must have to see themselves as agents of change, not from the perspective of partisanship but from the perspective of ensuring quality life.
“Ensure that you obtain your PVCs, because that is your power.
“Also ensure that there is peace in your environment and I implore you all on the day of election to come out en masse to vote a candidate of your choice,” he said.
The bulletin also quoted INEC’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Mr Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, as canvassing for more women participation in the electoral process.
“From our statistics, women constitute about fifty per cent of registered voters in the FCT and very often, they do come out but we are not satisfied with the turnout,” Osaze-Uzzi said.
He also called for the support of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), People Living with Disabilities (PLWDs), Community-Based Organisations (CBOs) and Faith-Based Organisations (FBOs).
Osaze-Uzzi said that the collaboration was important in terms of improving voter awareness and participation in the FCT election.
“INEC alone cannot conduct all the voter education. To do this needs all the support and buy-in of all segments of the society.
“Democracy is all about participation, it is all about choosing our representatives in a fully informed manner,” he said.
Osaze-Uzzi said that where a huge percentage of citizens were excluded from electoral process due to policies and processes, any election conducted in such atmosphere “cannot be said to be credible or free and fair”. (NAN)