Joseph Amedu, Lokoja

Against the backdrop of the noticeable flaws in the body politics, an international election monitor, Hamzat Lawal, has charged Nigerian youths to actively participate in electoral processes and structures in order to bring about positive change.

Hamzat lawal, Chief Executive officer, Connect Development, an anti-corruption activist.co-founder of Follow The Money, gave the charge on Saturday on the sidelines of APC primary election for Kogi Central Senatorial District held in Okene, headquarters of Central District of the state.

Lawal who averred that, for the desired change to occur, the youth should change their attitudes from being passive in the democratic evolution to buy into the nitty gritty of electoral processes.

He urge them to first of all, register as a member of political parties, attend wards, local government, state and National meetings, stressing that standing on the edge would not bring meaningful governance.

According to him, remaining aloof will be antithetical to good governance, hence, they should be part of the structure and processes of their parties.

He added that, although, all the citizenry cannot be partisan, but they could be identified with political system in order to enthroned democratic dividends.

He said, although, the nation’s democracy is very young and evolving, he was pleased with its fast growth and its high level of progress.

He commended president Muhammadu Buhari for his courage to have signed into law the 2022 Electoral law as Amended, stressed the need for INEC to be properly funded to enable her to build human capacity to ensure seamless services to the Nation.

”Our Democracy is very young, and in as much as we want it to grow very fast, we need to put all hands on deck. For the process to remain seamless, INEC must be provided with resources, so that they could build human capacity in her processes and systems. We need to ensure adequate security to guarantee safety of personnel, Sensitive materials and indeed the electorate in order to instill confidence in them to exercise their franchise.

”For us to curtail voters’ apathy, security should be the first point of Government, as they owe us a duty as our constitutional rights” he demanded.

Lawal, who has monitored elections in Nigeria, United States, United Kingdom; Kenya and other parts of Africa, challenged politicians and lawmakers to put aside personal and selfish interests, insisting that ,even though the lawmakers are primarily concerned with law making, they should not be a judge and a jury at the same time.

He lamented at the scenario in which the lawmakers allegedly wanted to get at some categories of Nigerians through section 84 of the amended Acts, however, wanted themselves to be compulsive delegates.

He advised the party Executives to consider the nation first in their choices of delegates and Agents and to allow them to do their work.

While condemning the use of money to buy the consciences of the delegates and all those in the election Management chain ,urge them to ensure that only those with relevant democratic credentials are allowed to fly their flags at the general elections.

Joseph Amedu, Lokoja

Ahead of 2023 general elections in Nigeria, the Executive Director, Connected Development, a Civil Society Organisation (CSO), Mr Hamzat Lawal, on Sunday called on government at all levels to work towards putting in place adequate security for smooth and successful conduct of the polls.

Lawal also stressed the need for active participation of youths across the country in Politics saying that as future leaders, they should be gradually groomed in the art of politicking.

Lawal, an independent observer made this call at the sideline of Kogi Central Senatorial primary election of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Okene at the weekend.

According to him, without adequate security, the INEC’s sensitive materials will not be safe, and Nigerians will not come out to cast their ballot thereby leading to voter apathy. adsbygoogle || []).push({});

”There is need to ensure adequate security as much as primaries elections are ongoing in Nigeria, but my major concern is the general elections in 2023.

”Today, I am happy that we have adequate security on ground and some of the agents and aspirants are well coordinated.

”We have INEC officials as well as various security agencies to ensure there is peace and the election is free and fair,” he said.

Lawal also urged Nigerian youths to ensure active participation in politics by being a card carrying member of a political party, and be part of the process and structure.

An anti-corruption activist and founder, Follow The Money, stressed that youths participation in political process was key to embracing inclusion, inter-generational equity and dialogue.

He urged the politicians and legislators to put their personal interest aside, and deliver on good governance and services to the people based on their ideals and manifestos.

Lawal, an anti-corruption activist and co-founder, Follow the Money, said the fact that money politics was still playing precedent in Nigeria, signified that the Anti- Corruption Agencies were not doing enough.

“If they do, people with money bags will be scared to use money to entice voters.

”If we must get it right, we must embrace our value system which has eroded,” he said.

Lawal disclosed that the CSO had deployed observers who were documenting the entire process of the parties’ primary elections, adding that the report would be out soon.

He emphasised that Science and Technology should play a big role in the next election to reduce voters apathy and ensure peaceful, free and fair election where politicians would not muzzle the process and the people.

Mr Abubakar Ohere, the former Kogi State Commissioner for Works, won the Kogi Central Senatorial APC primary election with 260 votes.

Ohere defeated two other aspirants, Mr Ramatu Attah and Alh. Dalhatu Sheriff, who polled 13 and 11 votes respectively.

…as Nollywood Actors, Chiwetalu Agu, Destiny Etiko, Chineyere Wilfred, Honours Oga Ndi Oga

Obiora Agbasimelo a.k.a Oga Ndi Oga has promised to address the plight of the downtrodden in the society, promising to make Anambra state a hub for film makers.

It was like a carnival as some Nollywood actors converged on Anambra State to honour him for his immense support to the film industry as he flagged-off his campaign to become the first citizen of the state.

The multi-millionaire technocrat cum philanthropist, Obiora Agbasimalo and President, Oga Ndi Oga Solidarity Movement is vying for the governorship of Anambra State under the auspices of Labour Party as he flagged off his campaign at Akwa on Saturday, 14th August, 2021.

Among those present at the grand breaking flag-off campaign of Labour Party were Destiny Etiko, Chiwetalu Agu, Chinyere Wilfred, Nkechi Nweje, Steve Eboh, Chidi Ihezie Okafor, Chinedu Ikedieze, Mc Smith Ochendo, Uju Okoli amongst others.

Informavores! gathered that Oga Ndi Oga through his foundation, he has unveiled multi-million naira revolving interest free loan for traders, artisans, small and medium scale business owners.

Aside from Empowering Women and Youths in Nigeria, Obiora Agbasimelo has also helped build Community roads, awarded educational and vocational skills scholarships.

In addition, he takes care of medical bills for so many Nigerians with critical health issues, as well as initiating several poverty alleviation programmes to address the plight of widows and families.

Author Profile

Abdulrahman Obaje

Prince Abdulrahman Obaje is a Media and ICT Consultant, Journalist, online marketer, social media strategist, Mathematician and Computer Scientist based in Abuja, Nigeria. He is the Founder and the Publisher of The Informavores!. You can reach me on +234 805 939 5252 or send i-witness report directly to me on news@informavores.com.ng.

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