By Stanley Onyekwere
In order to mitigate incidence of voided votes in the electoral process, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) has sensitized stakeholders in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on acceptable voting pattern.
Also, the agency educated the stakeholders on teps they should take to create more awareness on violence free elections across the Territory.
In his welcome address, Director General of FCT-NOA, David Dogo explained that the event was organised to create awareness among stakeholders especially civil servants, as part of the forthcoming 2019 general elections.
Dogo said with the technical issues that are involved in elections, there was the need for continued awareness.
He urged the key stakeholders drawn from FCTA to educate the people closer to them on how to adhere strictly to the electoral processes.
Dogo further explained that proper orientation of people in rural areas will bring about successful election, saying with the full support of civil servants there would not be more flouting of the guidelines as begin experienced.
According to him, the civil servants if well sensitized the message of hitch free election will get across all levels in the territory, considering their proximity to the voters.
He said the cases of voided votes, vote buying and peaceful elections will be overcome through more awareness creation.
The DG requested the stakeholders to facilitate a forum for the agency to sensitize a cross section of the FCTA staff on the elections.
On his part, the FCT minister, Malam Muhammad Bello represented by the acting secretary, Social Development Secretariat, SDS, Hajia Safiya Umar called on the civil servants to play good roles that will promote peaceful election in the Territory.
She said if the civil servants fail to sensitize the residents on the significances of peaceful election, right persons and steps would not be put in place.
“We as civil servants should sit up and do the needful, so that there will be strengthen system that could benefit all and stand the test of time,” she stressed
