- Urge INEC to open its portal for continuous voters registration as people turn 18 everyday.
The Governorship Candidate of Social Democratic Party in the last Kogi Gubernatorial Election, Natasha Hadiza Akpoti, Esq. has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and President Muhammadu Buhari to allow a continuous voters registration and electronic voting respectively.
Akpoti made the call on Wednesday October 28 during an interview session on Channels television.
She expressed optimism on the agitations by young Nigerians demanding for good governance from their leaders.
“It is really heart-warming. Since our democracy picked up, we have never had this much uproar of young people trying to take charge of their destinies,” Akpoti said.
She noted, however, there is an electoral process that must be followed.
“Words alone won’t make an election successful and you must go through an electoral process to emerge as a leader before you can hold a pen and the mantle of authority to determine what your future will become.”
Reacting to the trending topic of ‘get your pvc’, Akpoti urged the election regulating body, INEC, to open its portal for a continuous registration.
“What stops INEC from opening it’s portal for continuous registration. Everyday people turn 18,” she said.
She further called on President Buhari to assent to the bill for electronic voting.
“We are tired of this ballot stuffing and electoral malpractices. If we don’t have electronic voting, that will actually damping the dream we have,” Akpoti said citing cases of ballot snatching, thuggery, and vote buying as factors against credible polls.
Reacting to the chaos that took over the #EndSARS protests, Akpoti noted that the downfall of the movement was the leaderless nature of it, while expressing hope that there is still another time for young people to come together and peacefully demand a transparent and accountable governance.
“By and large, I believe there is going to be a change of narrative and I am ready to be part of the young people. Myself I am tired of this godfatherism, expensive way of politicking, no matter how sound your ideas are, it never really matters because the winners are always determined even before the election,” she said.
