Yvote Naija Trains Mobilizers Towards Election Participation....Prioritizes Women And PWD's Involvement

As the Ekiti State Gubernatorial,Senate and House of Assemblies Elections slated for June 18th 2022 draws nearer, a Civil Society Organisation Yvote Naija has held a workshop to sensitize the people of Ekiti on the need to participate in the forthcoming elections.

The workshop titled " Ekiti Decides 2022  In Ado Ekiti the Ekiti State capital was sponsored by Global youth Mobilization in an effort to encourage voters to come out massively to vote.

The State Coordinator Mr. Funso Benjamin and the convener Mr. Abideen Olasupo in their  welcome addresses said the workshop which is the first of its kind in Ekiti state is to ensure that people holding political offices are made to be accountable to the people. This they said can be possible through the youths, women and persons with disabilities actively participating in the electoral process. The convener bemoaned the low turn out of voters   and said part of the efforts of the Organisation is to encourage people to get registered with Inec and also take action by voting during the election.

The workshop was segmented into 3 sessions where Facilitators highlighted the challenges and discrimination facing women and Persons with disabilities in the state.

Mr. Ayomide Agbaje lectured the participants on how to use New media to reduce voters apathy in Nigeria by using it to create awareness and the efforts of the Independent Electoral commission to prevent the reoccurring menace of Inec  machine malfunctioning.

In his own lecture, Mr. Nelson Akerele took the participants on voters education and sensitization, Vote buying, Attitude of people to governance, challenges faced by people with disabilities and the fight against gender discrimination.

He proffered Solutions to the challenges by highlighting ways the people can actually make their votes count.

He advised the Trainees on Advocacy, Community mapping, Power mapping, Mobilization and stake holders Organizations.

He encouraged the youths to speak with one voice and hold political offices holders accountable. 

The Lead Team led by Habeeb Adewale taught the participants on the need to sensitize the public and would be voters to completely shun vote selling and and vote buying. According to him,  those buying the votes will be out of business if there is nobody to sell to them. 

He encouraged trainees to brace up for the challenge ahead as it will be a huge achievement if people can actually vote their conscience despite the fact that Poverty mostly push people into accepting tokens from politicians in exchange for their votes.

In her own goodwill messages, the Inec Desk officer in Ekiti state, Mrs Funke Ojo lauded the Yvote Naija for the initiative and reiterated the commitment of Inec to ensure the success of the election.

The Trainees thereafter expressed their readiness to go out and encourage voters to participate in the election.  

They also appreciated the Yvote Naija for giving them the platform as  catalyst of change.

By Idowu Adebomi