By David Onwuchekwa
The Executive Director of the Social and Integral Development Centre (SIDEC), Mrs Ugochi Ehiahuruike, in collaboration with the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room funded by FCDO, has intensified voter education campaigns in Anambra State ahead of the November 8 governorship election.
Mrs Ehiahuruike and her team from Awka, the state capital, on Thursday visited the Electrical/Electronic Market in Nnewi, where they engaged hundreds of traders in an interactive sensitization session on the importance of peaceful and credible elections.
Addressing the traders, Mrs Ehiahuruike urged them to ensure that they were duly registered and eligible to vote before participating in the election. She advised them to conduct themselves in an orderly manner, noting that discipline and decorum were key to a transparent and peaceful electoral process.
“If you witness any form of electoral malpractice or irregularities such as bribery, fraud, or intimidation, it is important to report it to the relevant authorities to maintain the integrity of the electoral process,” she said.
The SIDEC Executive Director warned that electoral offenses, including vote-buying and selling, multiple voting, impersonation, violence, false declaration of results, bribery, and corruption, are serious crimes that attract legal sanctions and punishment.
She also encouraged eligible voters to turn out en masse on election day, lamenting that out of about 2.8 million registered voters in Anambra, only a small fraction usually participate in elections.
Responding, the Chairman of the Electrical/Electronic Market, Mr. Nwizu Maduka, commended the SIDEC team for the enlightenment campaign, noting that the traders had gained valuable insights from the session and would put the lessons into practice on November 8.
Some of the traders who spoke individually expressed their readiness to participate actively in the forthcoming election, but appealed for measures to ensure that every vote truly counts. They appreciated Mrs Ehiahuruike and her team for the outreach, even as they pointed out that political actors often encourage vote-buying and other electoral malpractices.
As in other locations visited, the SIDEC team provided light entertainment for participants, which was monetized to ensure fairness and transparency.
