By Odie Ramon.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has appealed to traditional rulers to front the campaign on the function of the bimodal voter device, the need for a peaceful 2023 general election, and also preach against vote selling and vote buying, amongst others, in their domains.
INEC National Commissioner supervising Delta, Edo and Cross Rivers States, Professor Rhoda Gumus made the appeal when she paid an advocacy visit to the Bayelsa State Council of Traditional Rulers in Yenagoa, the state capital.
Professor Gumus urged Nigerians, particularly the youths to awaken their electoral conscience and participate in a way that would bring the needed development in the country.
She disclosed that Bayelsa State has the highest number of multiple registrations, noting that the incident of multiple registrations portrays the State in a bad light, adding that all those who are liable would have their names struck out of the voter register.
The INEC National Commissioner advised prospective voters to always get the right information and act accordingly saying the reason for the multiple registration was that those who have already registered, but wanted a reprint of cards or change of polling unit went ahead to register again.
In his response, Chairman, Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers Council and Ibenanaowei of Ekpetiama Kingdom, King Bubaraye Dakolo lamented that the reason for the continuous rising case of electoral violence in the country was the failure by relevant agencies to diligently prosecute and convict perpetrators to serve as a deterrent.
King Dakolo promised that the traditional rulers in the state will play their role in ensuring a hitch free 2023 polls while calling on those yet to collect their Permanent voter cards to do so as a duty to the nation.
Our Correspondent reports that the National Commissioner had earlier engaged youths in a one day sensitization programmetagged “Engagement with Youths Focused Groups in the South South Geo-Political Zone Ahead of the 2023 General Election with the theme; 2023, Youths as a Vanguard of impactful change.
