BOLU-OLU ESHO, Akure
As people of Ondo State prepare for the forthcoming off-circle gubernatorial election in the state, a non-governmental organization, New Generation Girls and Women Development Initiative (NIGAWD), has charged Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to transmit, at every stage, the election results on its website for people to have access to the results.
This, according to Folashade Bamigboye, the Ondo State Coordinator, Youth-led Electoral Reform Project, YERP-Naija of the New Generation Girls and Women Development Initiative (NIGAWD), would reduce unnecessary electoral issues raising during and after election.
She explained that voting should be a peaceful and powerful platform for the people to make their voice heard without violence.
Folashade stated this during her visit with a team of the organisation to the Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ondo State Council, Leke Adegbite, at the NUJ Press Centre, Akure, on Thursday.
She also suggested that all pre-election and post-election matters should be concluded before the inauguration date for the new winner(s) of elections.
The coordinator of YERP-Naija charged youths to resist temptation of vote-buying, saying this had to a great extent undermined the democratic process in the federation.
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She said: “NIGAWD is implementing the Youth-led Electoral Reform (YER) Southwest advocacy project titled Supporting Youth to Lead Electoral Reform Efforts in the six states in the Southwest part of Nigeria.
“The project seeks to lead multi-stakeholder engagement leading to advocacy for electoral reform at the national and sub-national levels to address the gaps observed during the 2023 elections.
“This project is being carried out by NIGAWD in order to encourage young people in Ondo State to participate fully in the forthcoming governorship election.
“We are here to call on you journalists to help us use your media platforms to support the youth priority recommendations with national and state Assembly members to share our recommendations with them either via WhatsApp and ensure that these recommendations are reflected in the final outcome of the review.
“We also encourage NUJ members to help us publicise YERP-Naija recommendations.”
In his response, Leke Adegbite commended the team for advocating good things for the vulnerable in the society, adding that “there is need to modify our democracy.”
He, therefore, pledged the support of the media professionals in the state for the organization to achieve its aims for the November 16, 2024 gubernatorial poll in the state.
