By Cajetan Mmuta
The National Orientation Agency, (NOA), has tasked candidates of various political parties and their supporters in the November 6 Anambra State Governorship election to focus more on issue-based campaign rather than engaging themselves in scandalous and defamatory comments and other destructive activities capable of escalating the present security challenges in the state.
The Director of NOA Anambra State, Barrister Charles Nwoji, stayed this during the One Day zonal Voter Education /Stakeholders Forum organized in Abagana headquarters of Njokoka local government area of the state by the agency for a successful Governorship election n the State.
Barrister Nwoji, pointed out that the security situation in the country is not something anybody could be happy with but signposts a bad omen to Nigeria and her citizens.
He maintained that NOA would continue to discharge its constitutional duties to the people no matter the prevailing circumstances.
He underscored peace and love of each as Imperatives for the positive development of any Country, saying that the duty of NOA in the forthcoming November 6th Governorship Election is to effectively inform and educate Ndi Anambra on the best ways to vote and vote correctly so that their votes would count.
He also advised the people to be patient with the prevailing circumstances in the State, adding that the Anambra people are politically aware and therefore they must show courage and hard work during elections.
Nwoji reminded the people that their votes must showcase their strength and afford them the opportunity to question those in the leadership positions should they fail to deliver on the electioneering campaign promises.
He however charged Ndi- Anambra to shun all forms of lukewarm attitude and partake actively in the political process of the country, especially in the forthcoming Election.
He cautioned that the current security situation in the Country was a ploy by enemies of the State to dissuade the electorate from taking an active part in the election.
He noted that the record available to him has shown that Anambra State had the lowest electoral violence in the past, warning the people to work towards observing all the Covid-19 preventive protocols at the poll during the election.
In addition, the director called on traditional rulers, the Presidents-General of town Unions Women Leaders, and other stakeholders in the State to engage their subjects, wards, and others so that they do not indulge in any activity that would undermine the relative peace in the State throughout the election periods.
Chairman of the occasion, Sir. Okunwa Okafor in his remarks urged the electorate to take the message of a violence-free November 6 election to every length and breadth of the State, especially at the grassroots.
A paper on “Voter Education For A Successful Anambra November 6 Election” through illustration was presented by the Deputy Director, Planning, Research and Strategy, Comrade Felix Agbu of the NOA Awka.
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He reminded the electorate that voting is a civic responsibility of every eligible voter in the State as well as a vehicle of democracy that drives development in any given society in the World and advised the people to come out in their large numbers to vote with a view to enthroning good Governance and lasting peace in the State through their votes.
The INEC Electoral Officer in charge of Njikoka Local Government Area, Mr. Josiah Ngwoke, described the event as apt and imperative assuring, Ndi- Anambra that the election must surely hold as planned by INEC, saying that the Commission is doing everything within its constitutional provisions to ensure the success of the election in the State.
On his part, the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Njikoka Local Government Area, Abagana, represented on the occasion by ASP Andrew Akogun of the Division, assured the people that Police in the State and her Sister Security Agencies would not fold their hands watching the disgruntled elements in the State to unleash mayhem in the State before, during and after the election, appealing to the parents to properly guard the movement of their children and wards so that they should not join a bad company that would lead them to engage into social vices that would ignite violence from any part of the State during the election.
