October 07, (THEWILL) – The Chairman of Taraba State Independent Electoral Commission, TASIEC, Dr Philip Duwe, has challenged the media and other relevant bodies, to put more effort into voters’ education, ahead of the 2023 general elections.
Dr Duwe said this in a media interaction with journalists, at the Maiden town hall meeting of the Women in Media and Partners in Jalingo on Thursday.
Reiterating the need to educate the electorates, the Chairman stressed that the literacy level on voting is relatively low and will affect the electorates’ performance during elections.
According to him, the new Electoral Act has come with a beam of hope for Nigerians but people need to be educated and properly informed on how it will work for them come 2023.
“It behoves every structure of government to rise to the task ahead. Individuals in media are also involved, we can’t do this without the media. We must continue to build confidence and trust in the mind of Nigerians. The fundamental error is that we are in a democracy with illiterate electorates.
“The media is at the forefront of this noble cause because they inform the general public. The government, NOA, INEC, SIEC, and Ministry of Information are also saddled with the responsibility of getting the electorates informed. People will have more confidence in the system if they understand this new Electoral Act.
“There is no big or small man come 2023, it is one man, one vote and people need to know this so that they can be guided when the time comes”, he noted.
Dr Duwe expressed confidence in the new Electoral policies, stressing that many policies have changed and 2023 will not be business as usual.
In his words: “A lot has changed, policies have changed. The election environment and infrastructure have also changed. Even the autonomy of INEC within the context of getting things done with a worldview has also changed. So we are thinking global, strategically planning and delivering credible elections in Nigeria.”
He, however, called on citizens to desist from abandoning their jobs or businesses and taking politics as a major source of income.
“What is obtainable now is people taking politics as a source of livelihood and we are moving away from productivity to consumption. As a doctor I am still doing my job, I consult and do all that I’m supposed to do. You can do your normal business and still do politics”, he advised.
While cautioning the youth against social vices during elections, he also challenged women to know their rights as they also can do a lot in the area of politics if they are well informed and organised.
“According to the demographic health survey, women form the larger population. And as the saying goes, if you train a woman, you train a nation. They have the capacity to move even a female to be President of this country but there are so many confounders that infringe on their right and capacity to represent. Therefore, they must know their rights.
“The youths also have a future. They have a capacity for change. Don’t die for anyone in this election. Let us be patriotic citizens who want to make their country better”, he said.
*** Tiana Jakhnwa
About the Author
