A non-governmental organization (NGO), Help One Foundation, in collaboration with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has held a sensitization rally for voters in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The rally held Sunday, with the theme: “Vote, not fight” had INEC officials and members of the NGO visiting the six area councils of the FC, sharing flyers and addressing FCT residents on the dangers of vote buying and selling.
Addressing a crowd of FCT residents at Wuse market in different languages, through interpreters, founder of the NGO, Mr Expensive James, who is the FCT INEC Ambassador and also Head of Broadcast Wazobia FM, Nigeria Info FM and Cool FM, said that the rally was particularly important because of the dangers posed by vote-buying to the future of Nigerians.
He said: “If you are a registered voter, go to your polling unit on Saturday with your PVC and vote the leaders you know that can represent you well. Vote according to your conscience. Don’t sell your vote, neither should you buy votes. Don’t be induced with financial rewards for you to make bad choices you will regret later.
“The people you are fighting for during election may not even know you. If you die fighting for politicians, they will not even come for your burial. Don’t even tell anybody who you want to vote for. Make sure you know the person you are voting for and vote according to the directions in the ballot papers, in order for your votes to be valid.”
Also speaking, Head of Department, INEC FCT Voter Education and Publicity, Mrs Ndidi Okafor, said that it was pertinent for Nigerians, especially FCT electorate, to be aware of the dangers of vote buying and selling.
“The long awaited 2019 general elections will commence on Saturday, February 16. Voters are expected to come out en mass to choose their leaders from 8am on Saturday. However, those without PVCs should not come near polling units. Election is not a war. Vote, not fight on election day. Don’t sell your vote,” she said.
