By; VICTOR DAZANG, Kaduna
The Arewa Youth Forum has expressed dissatisfaction with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over poor publicity and sensitization ahead of next year’s general elections and the use of Biometric Voters Accreditation System (BIVAS).
The Acting President of Arewa Youth Forum, Alhaji Ahmed Mohammed Zagi, expressed this in a statement made available to newsmen in Kaduna on Thursday December 29, 2022.
According to the statement, INEC’s lack of adequate sensitization could lead to disenfranchisement of millions of Nigerians, especially Northerners.
“The introduction of BVAS and other amendments to the electoral act, will affect millions of voters in Nigeria, if INEC does not go to the grassroots to educate and sensitize the electorate.
“Our little findings revealed that a lot of our people here in the North don’t know there will be BVAS accreditation before voting. Those that have heard of it scantily, are afraid of being embarrassed during voting, hence the need for INEC to do the needful,” Zagi said.
He suggested that traditional, community and religious leaders should be approached by INEC and used as opinion leaders to reach all communities with the sensitization.
The group however, said that it is optimistic that the electoral body is committed to delivering a free, fair and credible polls in 2023.
