Thursday, 19 February 2015

WUEE sensitize A’Ibom people on Electoral participation

As the preparation  for the 2015  general elections gathered momentum, a non- government Organization, Women United for Economic Empowerment, WUEE, in partnership with Action Aid Nigeria recently organized a week long activity to educate Akwa Ibom people on the need to participate in the electoral processes.

WUEE which mission is to promote women and children rights as well as human development to the rural and urban dwellers through empowerment programmes conducted the voter education workshop in 18 communities covering six Local Government Areas of Ikot Abasi, Abak, Uruan, Nsit Ubium, Ikono and Okobo respectively.
In an interaction with workshop participants, the Policy and Governance Advisor of ActionAid, Kenneth Okoineme explained that the programme was to educate citizens on the need to be familiar with the electoral process before, during and after the general elections in their respective areas.

Mr. Okoineme stressed the need for electorate to interact with people seeking political offices to ascertain their level of sincerity, plans and commitment to the communities when elected to such position.
He urged participants to take the workshop seriously so as to know who to elect as their representative through their votes and emphasized that citizens should hold public office holders accountable when they fail to respond to community needs after elections.

During the interaction, the Executive Director of WUEE, Mrs Iniobong Frank urged electorate to exercise their franchise by voting willingly for candidates of their choice without intimidation or under pressure.

Mrs Frank who was represented by the Project Officer, Aniema Nyong charged participants to assess individuals who are aspiring to various elected offices through their manifestos and their readiness to heed to their community demands.

Some of the participants during interaction session, raised issues concern that posed as limitation during elections as experienced in the previous general elections.

The participants highlighted some problems encountered during elections to include; insecurity, hijacking of electoral materials by party thugs, lack of proper enlightenment and restriction by non-accredited fake security personnel at polling units among others.

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