The Director-General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Dr. Garba Abari, has called on Nigerians to shun all forms of electoral violence during the March 18 gubernatorial and House of Assembly polls.
Abari made the call on Thursday in Kano during a media dialogue.
The dialogue was to present a report on the agency’s interventions before, during, and after the Feb. 25 presidential and National Assembly elections.
Abari disclosed that the agency had organized political party summits on peacebuilding, media engagements on sensitive reporting, as well as advocacy visits to traditional and religious leaders to ensure fair and violence-free polls.
“Over the years, NOA has acquired reputation for grassroots enlightenment and mobilisation in the area of voter education,” Abari said.
According to him, NOA mobilized its officers across the 774 local government areas, pointing out that the personnel visited markets, motor parks, palaces, and worship centers to enlighten the people on the need for violence-free elections.
“The voter education was targeted at having massive voter registration, peaceful election, the inclusion of women and people with special needs, PVCs collection, explaining the new electoral act and urging them to shun electoral corruption and voter apathy.
“Fifty jingles in many languages were sent out to traditional institutions, religious leaders, pressure groups, and all relevant stakeholders to prevail on them to seek peaceful elections,” he said.
The director-general called on elder statesmen, patriots, and women to rise and be counted, saying, “we must all be sensitive and careful about our utterances.”
Abari said NOA had through social media come up with a whistle-blowing platform, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, to expose electoral corruption and to campaign against vote buying and selling.
He observed that the 2023 Presidential and National Assembly elections were delayed by the late arrival of election materials across some polling units.
Abari noted that journalists had a critical role to play in maintaining peace and stability in the country and promoting democracy by educating the public on how to vote and shun voter apathy.
“I am appealing to journalists not to relent in serving our dear country,” he urged.
