The history of election in the country has revealed many hindrances or incidences that usually mar the outcome of election. One major factor that seems very incongruous among such impediments is the issue of void votes. Void votes do not only amount to waste of time and efforts on the part of the electorate but is also a major setback for candidates in an election especially those who might emerge as winners in elections. Also, it has been observed that the issue of void votes is still on the high side as seen in successive elections. This has been attributed to ignorance, illiteracy and lack of political education on the part of voters. It is on this premise that the agency (NOA) went round the nooks and crannies of the 33 Local Government Areas of the State to sensitise the public, specifically the electorate, ahead of the 2019 general elections on how to vote correctly and make their votes count.
OBJECTIVES
- To reduce the number of invalid or void votes to the barest minimum
- To ensure that voters know and master the party logos and symbols
- To educate voters on how to properly thumb-print, fold and drop their ballot papers without wasting votes.
- To educate voters on the multiple effects of void votes.
METHODOLOGY
The programme adopted sensitisation, lecture, demonstration and drama to drive home the point and guide prospective electorates ahead of the 2019 general election.
| S/N | NAME OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT | DATE | VENUE | TARGET | ||
| 1 | Irepo | 17th January 2019 | Iba Palace | Traditional Rulers, Market Men and Women and Political Leaders | ||
| 2 | Ogbomoso North | 17th Jan, 2019 | Parrot FM Oke Baby Ogbomoso | Voters, Politicians, Community Leaders, and Religious Leaders | ||
| 3 | Ogbomoso South | 17th Jan, 2019 | Olugbami Osekun Hall Ogbomoso | Artisans, NURTW, Market Men and Women | ||
| 4 | Afijio | 17th Jan. 2019 | Trailer Motor Mechanics Elekara | Prospective Electorate | ||
| 5 | Saki East |
|
Information Center
Ago Amodu |
Traditional Rulers, Community Leaders and Artisan | ||
| 6 | Olorunsogo |
|
Community Town Hall Igbeti | Traditional Chiefs Local Govt. Functionaries, INEC, Stakeholders | ||
| 7 | Egbeda |
|
Bola Ige International Market Gbagi, Ibadan | Pol. Parties Leaders, Artisans, Religious Leaders and Public | ||
| 8 | Surulere |
|
Council Secretariat Iresaadu | All existing Political Parties Leaders and Followers | ||
| 9 | Ido |
|
Omi-Adio Market | Politicians, Artisans, Traders. And Community people | ||
| 10 | Ona Ara |
|
ACCOMORAN Office Opp. First Bank | CDC,NURTW, ACCOMORAN, League of Imams etc. | ||
| 11 | Ibarapa East |
|
NULGE Hall, Eruwa | All election Stakeholders | ||
| 12
|
Oluyole
|
|
Olomi Market Ibadan | Political Party Members, CDC. Market men and women | ||
| 13 | Atiba |
|
Atiba Div. Police Station Akinlemu | Atiba Local Government and Sooro LCDA | ||
| 14 | Ibadan North |
|
Local Government Hall | Election Stakeholders | ||
| 15 | Ibarapa North |
|
Igangan Town Hall | Politicians, Traditional and Religious Leaders | ||
| 16 | Ibadan South East |
|
All Election Stakeholders | |||
| 17 | Itesiwaju |
|
Former Otu Police Station Hall,
Otu-Okada Road |
Politicians, NURTW, Religious Traditional Rulers
ACCOMORAN and NATA etc. |
||
| 18 | Oriire |
|
Jegbe Town Hall Ikoyi Ile | NURTW, ACCOMORAN, CDC,NCWS NSCDC, Police and Traditional Rulers | ||
| 19 | Iseyin |
|
City Hall, Iseyin | General Public | ||
| 20 | Ibarapa Central |
|
Igboora Town Hall | NUT, Artisan, NULGE Community Leaders, Security Officers | ||
|
21 |
Saki West | 17th Jan. 2019 | Artisan Association Building Okesuna Saki | Security Offices, Politicians, Artisan and Trade Groups | ||
| 22 | Oyo East |
|
Artisan Association Building Okesuna Saki | Security Officers Politicians, Artisans and Trade Groups | ||
| 23 | Ogo Oluwa | High Chiefs Alepini Court Yard Apinni Oyo | Traditional, religious and Community leaders, NCWS, NURTW RTEAN and Trade Groups. | |||
| 24 | ATISBO |
|
Town Hall, Tede | Politician, Artisans, NURTW, ACCOMORAN, Youth, Trade Unions | ||
| 25 | Ibadan North West | 17th Jan, 2019 | Old Hall Ibadan North West, Onireke | CDC, Artisan NATA, Politicians NCWS | ||
| 26 | Oorelope | 17th Jan, 2019 | Bayo Ojerinle Hall Oke Afin, Igboho | Security agents, Politicians market men and women Traditional chiefs, NURTWs, Artisans | ||
| 27 | Akinyele | 17th Jan, 2019 | Local Got. Hall | All Stakeholders | ||
| 28 | Lagelu | 17th Jan, 2019 | Hall/Shed. Traditional Junction Ejioku | Traditional Comm. And Religious Leaders, NURTW, Artisans | ||
| 29 | Ibadan South West | 17th Jan, 2019 | Oritamerin Market | Security agents, NURTW, ACCOMORAN, Artisan and Traders | ||
| 30 | Iwajowa | 17th Jan, 2019 | Shabiganna Hall Iganna | Traditional Religious Community Leaders, security agents, NURTW and NATA etc. | ||
| 31 | Oyo West | 17th Jan, 2019 | Multipurpose Hall Oyo West Ojongbodu | Traditional rulers religious leaders, Artisans, trade groups
etc. |
||
| 32 | Ibadan North East | 17th Jan., 2019 | Ibadan North East Multipurpose Hall, Iwo road | Security Offices, Politicians, Artisan and Trade Groups | ||
| 33 | Kajola | 17th Jan., 2019 | Okeho Town Hall, Okeho | NURTW, ACCOMORAN, CDC,NCWS NSCDC, Police and Traditional Rulers |
TAKE HOME MESSAGES
– Void vote is a waste of time, efforts and resources
– Void vote is avoidable
– Void vote serves no one
– Each person’s vote must count
KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATOR: The people’s enthusiasm and robust discussion that was spurned by the programme on the part of participants were a strong indication of high performance of the programme.
TIMELINESS –The programme is timely as there is a need for continuous sensitisation and education of the electorates for a successful election.
EXPECTED OUTCOME: With the large turnout of participants especially the leaders of political parties, it is expected that prospective voters in various quarters will be better informed. It is also expected that incidences of void votes in the next polls will be reduced to the barest minimum.
