Michael Onwuka, Enugu
The Association of South East Town Unions (ASETU) says it will embark on massive campaign against vote buying ahead of the 2023 general election.
The National President of ASETU, Chief Emeka Diwe, disclosed this on Friday during the National Executive Committee of the association in Enugu.
Diwe described vote buying as a condemnable act and dangerous to the growth of democracy in any clime.
He said that every necessary effort needed to be made to get the best of the new wave of political consciousness of Nigerians, especially the youths, whom he described as major stakeholders in the Nigeria project.
“ASETU is against vote buying in any guise and will embark on massive campaign against such inimical act by educating the uninformed electorate on the danger of selling their conscience for paltry sums,” he said.
He commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for their efforts at ensuring that elections were credible.
He, however, said that the electoral umpire needed to do more to stamp out incidences of vote buying in the electoral process.
On the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), Diwe appealed to eligible voters in the area to fully participate in the exercise.
“We call on our people who are 18 years and above wherever they reside in Nigeria to register and obtain their Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs)in order not to be shut out of the exercise.
“This is the most auspicious time to rewrite the history of Ndigbo regionally and in our various states as well as make a statement on the national scene,” he said.
He said that president-generals of town unions in the area had been directed to redouble their efforts to assist in the registration of the people up to the villages.
“We have directed our state officials to synergise with INEC and their various state governments and make provisions where necessary, with a view to making the exercise seamless,” he said.
Diwe called on stakeholders in the region, particularly the traditional rulers, opinion leaders, market associations and trade groups to speed up the sensitisation and mobilisation of their people for mass participation,” Diwe said.
