The Director of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) Lagos Chapter, has attributed the non-violent conclusion of the political parties’ primary elections to its sustained public enlightenment campaigns since the INEC release of the 2023 political timetable this year.
Speaking to the Trumpet in his office in Lagos recently, Mr Waheed Ishola said Lagos residents received adequate sensitization through the Lagos State NOA Team on Public Enlightenment.
“Our Office sensitized Lagos residents on the essence of the PVC and their votes. That was why there was intense searching of PVCs by voters. The large number was due to the intensive sensitization we accorded the collection of PVCs and voters’ registration.”
On the new Electoral Act, he said the president lived up to expectations by keeping his promise to provide Nigerians and politicians, and political parties a level playing ground during the 2023 electioneering season. “That was the promise the president made and he has been keeping with it, and will keep it throughout the election period.”
Read Also: Edo to arrest, prosecute parents of out-of-school children
The NOA chief urged politicians to conduct their campaigns in the public interest and communicate to the electorates what they will do and how they intend to do it while not engaging in name-calling and abusive language.
He also urged the electorates to vote according to their good assessment of the strengths and capabilities of the various candidates to perform and deliver the dividends of democracy to them.
“I want to urge all politicians to consider the national interest as they campaign and not to heat the polity during their campaigns. INEC has promised to conduct a free and credible election, using electronic means of transmission of results.
“We should trust the technology because it will enhance the integrity of the collated results. But the party agents should be vigilant and avoid electoral malpractices such as ballot snatching and bringing in already thump-printed papers at the polling booths.
“Judging by the security arrangement in the recent off-season elections, there is no doubt that the upcoming election will be credible”, he said.
Click on The Trumpet and follow us on our Twitter page for more:
