By David Okpala/Stella Okpala
A rural elder, Mr Alloysius Okpalobi, has called on the media, particularly radio and television stations, to intensify voter education in local languages ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Okpalobi made the call during an interaction with Information Officers at Akpo in Aguata Local Government Area(LGA) of Anambra State on Sept.12.
He stressed the need for greater civic awareness, saying voters should be adequately informed about their rights and responsibilities before, during and after elections.
According to him, although candidates certified by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are qualified to contest, the responsibility of choosing the most suitable candidate rests with the electorate.
He attributed some of the challenges affecting elections to inadequate political awareness, urging stakeholders to strengthen voter education if the country must achieve better electoral outcomes in 2027.
“Election is done in a day. It is not reasonable to schedule any other activity for that day other than voting,” Okpalobi said, stressing the importance of voters making adequate time to participate in the electoral process and protect their votes.
He advised voters to understand the electoral procedures at their polling units, including the availability of the required election materials, ballot papers, ballot boxes and result sheets before voting begins.
Okpalobi encouraged voters to remain vigilant throughout the collation process and follow the results from the polling unit through the appropriate collation centres until the final results are announced.
He noted that effective participation requires voters to arrive at their polling units early enough to observe the arrival of INEC officials, ensuring that the necessary electoral materials are in place.
On vote buying, the rural elder tasked the media to use radio jingles and television campaigns to educate voters on the long term consequences of exchanging their votes for short term financial gains.
He cautioned voters against sacrificing the opportunity to choose credible leaders for relatively small monetary inducements, noting that poor leadership can affect communities for years after an election.
Okpalobi appealed to political contestants to focus on winning the confidence of voters at the polling units rather than relying on electoral malpractice or prolonged legal battles after elections.
He called for sustained civic education and responsible participation by all stakeholders to promote credible, peaceful and transparent elections in 2027.
David Okpala and Stella Okpala are of the Ministry of Information and Value Reformation, Anambra State.
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