European Centre Tasks NASIEC, Stakeholders On Inclusiveness
The European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES) has urged the Nasarawa State Independent Electoral Commission (NASIEC), others to ensure inclusiveness of all persons in the October 6 local government elections.
The group made the call at a one-day workshop on inclusivity for Women, Youths and Persons with Disability (PWDs) in the electoral process on Tuesday in Lafia.
The newsmen report that the workshop was organized by ECES in partnership with PWDs, NASIEC and funded by the European Union.
It is aimed at sensitizing the various groups on the need to fully participate in the forthcoming local councils polls in the state.
Mr. Hamza Fassi-Fihri, Project Coordinator, ECES, said the essence of the training was based on the importance of governance at local government levels being the closest to citizens’ realities and needs.
He pointed out that democracy thrives when inclusivity in election is guaranteed with the possibility of all people to make their voices heard.
“This is even more important for those populations who are marginalized, namely the youths, women and persons with disability,” he said.
Fassi-Fihri said that society has to invest efforts to ensure those citizens have equal access to voting rights and help make the rights real and effective.
“This is not only because youth represent 60 per cent of the population, women 50 per cent and PWDs more than 10 per cent.
“More importantly, it is because they are part of the society, important pillars of the nation and their voices have to be heard as well, just like any other citizen,” he said.
The project coordinator lauded representatives of the affected groups who according to him, have put so much efforts in pushing for a change in the legal framework of the Electoral Act for greater participation and representation.
“We, as ECES, are proud to to have been partners of some of these organizations in this important milestone on the way to inclusivity,” he said.
In his remarks, Mr. Ayuba Wandai-Usman, Chairman of NASIEC, appreciated ECES for organizing the training and fully funding it.
He assured that efforts were being made to ensure that voters of all categories exercise their rights on election day.
“As a responsible commission, we have carefully selected a number of activities including the training of both NASIEC and women, youths and persons with disabilities which is being handled today by ECES, a competent electoral resource agency.
“It is the hope of the commission that the outcome of today’s training which I am quite sure is rich in content and methodology will provide these categories of persons the required knowledge to mobilize their members for the October 6, 2021 council elections,” he said.
In a goodwill message, Mr. Innocent Ladan, President, Joint National Association for Persons With Disabilities (JONAPWD), reminded NASIEC of their special needs that deserved to be considered even during the process of exercising their rights to vote.
“We find it very difficult most times to go out there and vote. Sometimes the electoral processes make it difficult for us.
“So, ensure to make the voting venue easily accessible for people with disabilities to come out and vote candidates of their choice,” he said.
Also Mrs. Mary Mashi, President, National Council for Women Societies (NCWS), solicited a better and friendlier environment not just to encourage more women to come out and exercise their franchise but also participate fully in the electoral process and vie for positions.
“When it comes to voting, women are always ready. In the morning you will see us already queued up and ready to vote. You won’t see many men, yet they use us and dump us. If a woman wants to vie for a sensitive position, they wont support us.
“But women are always sincere. If you want excellent result, give a woman the opportunity to prove herself and she will not disappoint,” she said.
Similarly, Mr. Idris Ojoko, Chairman, National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Nasarawa state chapter, appealed to NASIEC to carry the youth along in the conduct of the local government polls, while assuring of a violence-free process.
