Senator Yar’adua tells Nigerians to engage political leaders, speaks on early voting bill

Senator representing Katsina Central, Abdulaziz Musa Yar’ adua has urged Nigerians to engage their political leaders on issues that would advance the cause of democracy in Nigeria, saying the bill on early voting which he sponsored is to strengthen democracy.

The bill on early voting which he sponsored has passed second reading in the Senate.

The lawmaker gave this advice during an advocacy visit to the Ministry of Interior ito engage in advocacy and public enlightenment on the proposed bill.

Mrs Precious Peace Agala from the Senator’s office and other support staff gave a rundown of the bill to the Minister and other top officials of the ministry that the the bill was designed to be inclusive of all the eligible voters.

According to him, many Nigerians are excluded from exercising their franchise which the bill seeks to address particularly the challenge of electoral process during general election.

“Nigerian needs to make statement over those who govern them and that intend this bill”.

He maintain that the bills will address two million Nigerians who are eligible to vote and exercise their civic right by electing their leaders, but were not participating in the election due to ad – hoc and other services on election day.

He released the statistics as follows:

– Over 1 million Ad-hoc staff

3 10,973 police personnel

– 93,495 Military and Department of State Service (DSS) Personnel

– 51,000 Personnel from the National Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC)

– 21,000 from the Federal Road Safety Corps

– 11,336 from the Nigeria Correctional Service

– 9,447 from the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency

– 350 Personnel from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission

In addition, 144,800 Observers deployed by 196 national and domestic organisations were also unable to vote.

“That if this huge population is being disenfranchised in the general election there will be no way we can have credible election in our electoral process”.

He advocated that eligible individuals, including security personnel, electoral officials, and those deemed eligible by the commission, must apply 30 days before the early voting date.

“Accordingly, implementation and Voting Procedure: A designated early voting date will be set, not more than 7 days before the general election, and voting centers will be established by the Electoral Commission.

The Senator further stated that “Several African countries, including South Africa, Namibia, Ghana, and Senegal, have successfully implemented early voting, resulting in higher voter turnout rates”.

“By adopting early voting, Nigeria can establish a more inclusive, efficient, and secure electoral process that better serves the interests of all Nigerians”.

Representative of Samson Itodo of Yiaga Africa, Cynthia Mbamalu, disclosed that the bill was totally supported by their organization as it seeks to address critical issues in the electoral process.

Mbamalu stated that ” if the country that is about two hundred million and over two million voters are being disenfranchised there will be no way for credible election”.

Also the Minister of Interior alluded that “this initiative is an indictment on our side that some of us who have been in the National Assembly for some time did not think of this disenfranchisement for correction before now.”