Ugo Nosiri, Owerri
Ahead of the November eleven governorship election in Imo State, the Director General, National Orientation Agency Dr. Garba Abari, says the agency has embarked on voter sensitisation in the state.
This he said is to check apathy and enlighten the electorate on the provisions of the new electoral act.
Speaking at the commencement of the exercise in Owerri, Abari expressed worry that less than thirty per cent of registered voters in Nigeria participated in the last general election and noted that all hands must be on deck to increase voter turnout in the coming off-season elections.
Dr. Abari who was represented by a Deputy Director in the Agency, Mr. Emeka Egbugara, said Imo had been identified as a flashpoint for violence during the forthcoming election and urged the media to promote peace instead of allowing desperate politicians to use their platforms to destabilise the polity.
The Imo State Director of the Agency Mrs. Maureen Oparaji identified lack of trust on the electoral umpire as part of issues promoting voter apathy but gave an assurance that the agency would deploy its staff across the twenty seven local government areas of the state to re-orientate the electorate.
The State Chairman Inter-party Advisory Council, IPAC, Chief Levi Eke, called on the Independent National Electoral Commission and security agencies to ensure that the outcome of the election reflects the will of the people.
