By Adadainfo
Political parties have been advised to embark on voter education to make electorate abreast of voting modalities.
According to the people interviewed in Enugu on Tuesday, such had become necessary to reduce null votes attendant to electronic voting in accordance with the new Electoral Law.
Osmond Eze, a medical doctor, said, “This is necessary because of the electronic voting which will be used in the 2023 general elections. It is new, and unless people are sensitised, many eligible voters will be disenfranchised on the election day.
“It will also reduce chances of manipulation during the exercise as an informed voter is prone to being misled. This should be the concern of various political parties instead of engaging in character defamation.”
A public affairs analyst, Dr Augustine Okolie, said the Independent National Electoral Commission is doing everything possible to ensure credible polls, and needs the support of all stakeholders to sensitise the voters.
According to him, “INEC does not own this election per se. There is need for voter education. It is key to let voters know what they should do. Political parties should educate the masses. The National Orientation Agency should sensitise the masses.
“The media should also come in. Most of the voters are confused. This will lead to null votes. We need to help INEC to do this job. This election is not by one million-man rally, or Internet war fare. It is the PVC. Parties should dedicate committees for voter education. Most rural people do not know how to vote properly.”
