Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says all political parties must educate eligible voters ahead of the 2012 governorship election in the state to avoid the low turnout witnessed in the last general elections.
The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mallam Muhammed Abubakar gave the charge yesterday during a stakeholders’ meeting at the INEC office, Lokoja.
Mallam Abubakar, who disclosed that the governorship election would take place between February and March next year said all hands must be on deck to actualise free and fair governorship election in the state. He stressed that the state, which was notorious for election violence had greatly improved in the last election with only 21 petitions filed before the electoral tribunal in the state, as the state was no longer regarded as a flashpoint both during and after election.
The REC mentioned that they were not happy with the turnout of voters during the last general election in the state as only 42 percent of the total registered voters voted. He noted that in the Central Senatorial District of the state it was noticed that the number of women that turned out for the exercise was more than men, saying that it gave the commission great concern.
He posited that they needed to enlighten the people of the state as the state was getting set for 2012 governorship election, which would be the only election in the state, noting that the turn out, which was 42 percent, was not good enough. “A lot has to be done as we approach 2012 governorship election. We just have to raise the tempo if we must record credible governorship election in 2012,” he said.
He commended other stakeholders in the state, especially the security agents in the state for the 2011 election which he said was successful. He added that the stakeholders’ meeting was important so that they could find solution to any problem or obstacles that might affect the 2012 governorship election.
