Ahead of the scheduled off-season gubernatorial election in Imo State, Yiaga Africa has sensitized civil society activists and media practitioners on the need to reawaken the confidence and trust of the electorate on the electoral process.
Speaking during a one-day ‘Watch The Vote Media & CSO Roundtable Discussion’ held at Swiss International Beland Hotel, Owerri, Programme Director of Yiaga Africa, Cynthia Mbamalu, emphasized the need for the CSOs and the media should endeavour to build the needed trust among the voting public.
She disclosed that in Yiaga Africa Pre- election observation report, six local government areas of Imo State have been identified as most volatile areas.
Yiaga Africa revealed that the total number of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) collected in the state is 2,318,919, adding that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had stated that of the 4,758 polling units, election will not hold in 38 polling units.
In his own presentation, Yiaga Africa Programme Officer, Paul James revealed that the post-election report after the 2023 general election, showed that polls did not commence at an appreciable rate in the South East unlike in the other geopolitical zones.
During the discussions, participants on the aggregate agreed that the forthcoming governorship election may be marred by voter apathy as many have lost confidence in the electoral umpire and electoral process.
Many had also pointed out that violence by non-state actors like thugs, unknown gunmen as well as pro-independent agitators among others, is a major challenge.
The participants called on government, INEC and security agencies to do more to restore confidence among the people and assuage their fears.
Earlier in his welcome remarks, Chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Imo Council, Comrade Ifeanyi Nwanguma who was represented by Mr Chigozie Uzosike, expressed delight that CSOs are now engaging the media more in the state.
He called for a peaceful election that will ensure safety of all stakeholders and equally thanked Yiaga Africa for the good job it is doing to deepen transparent democratic electoral process in the nation.
