By Cajetan Mmuta, Awka
Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Garba Abari, has warned political parties, residents and the electorate against vote-buying and selling ahead of the November 6 Governorship election in Ananbra state.

He advised the electorate to ensure they vote properly to avoid invalid votes, political thuggery, election violence and ballot box snatching, among other vices during the exercise.

Abari made the appeal during the official flag-off campaign against vote-buying/selling held on Wednesday in Awka the state capital.

Represented by the Deputy Director (Political Civic, Ethnic-Value, NOA Headquarters, Abuja, Mr. Edozie Ajaegbu, he said NOA, in line with its mandate of public enlightenment and feedback from the public to government, had identified certain traits in voter behaviour which if not tackled through mass sensitization and awareness creation, can slow down or at worst derail the country’s democratic process.

Abari, pointed out some of the worrisome voter behaviours which it wishes to tackle in the build up to the forthcoming Anambra State Governorship election to include the problems of voided votes, vote buying/selling and the need for peaceful election.

He called on the Anambra state government, local government, traditional rulers, religious leaders, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Security Organisations in the state, INEC and political parties to support and work with the agency for a successful election.

The State Director of the Agency, Barrister Charles Edozie Nwoji, in his address, promised that under his watch in Anambra state, would carry out the campaign across the 21 local government areas of the state.

The move would help ensure free, fair and transparent process in the state.

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He said the agency has fully mobilized its machinery in the 21 LGAs of the state for necessary engagements in critical areas; robust sensitization of Ndi-Anambra on the ongoing Continous Voters Registration (CRV), reduction in the challenge of voided votes during elections, through sustained voter education, sensitization of the electorate against vote-buying and selling, sensitization of all citizens for peaceful election in the subsequent weeks and months.

He urged the Presidents-general of all town Unions in the State to approach the Agency through the Community Orientation and Mobilization Officers in charge of their various local government areas for sustained sensitization.

On his part, the President General, Ohaneze Ndi-Igbo, Anambra state branch, Prince Emeka Odedeme, said the programme was an opportunity for the association to partner with the agency, to intensify the campaign across the 181 communities in the state.

He said Ohaneze Ndi-Igbo has not endorsed any candidate for the election and that the association would only do that immediately after its planned debate for all the guber candidates.

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A Resouce person, Professor Collins Okafor of the Department of Political Science, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka and the Chairman, Anambra Society for Network, Prince Chris Azor, on their separate speeches, urged the electorate to come out en masse and vote candidates of their choice, as well as avoid violence before, during and after the election.

“Do not sell your votes during the election. Once you collect money from any politician and vote them into power, you have mortgaged your future, the dual admonished.

They equally called for more sensitization exercises before the closing of political campaigns.

Other participants at the event include officials of the INEC, Civil Society Organisation, Police, Civil Defence and FRSC.