Audio AttacOlorode’s audiohed
NAN-H-62
Votes
By Lydia Ngwakwe
Lagos, Oct. 6, 2016 (NAN) A former INEC Commissioner, Prof. Lai Olorode, has called for zero tolerance for void votes in the Nov. 26 governorship election in Ondo.
Olorode told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Thursday that the electorate’s confidence would be restored in the system, once zero-tolerance for void votes was achieved.
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“In the last record that I have Ondo (state) recorded just about 2.5 per cent wasted votes and I think they should try this time around during the gubernatorial election to go to zero- tolerance for wasted votes.
“That is the only way you will be restoring confidence because there is no point queuing up to do accreditation and voting simultaneously and at the end of the day, your votes will not count.
“Void votes generally are a reflection of high level of illiteracy and the failure of political parties to reach out to their members and to give them some voter educational information.
“For example, what is the logo of a party, where should they thumbprint and how should they hold ballot papers.
“The logo as a symbol of a political party should be as simple as possible for easy identification so that whatever your level of education you will be able to identify the logo of your party.’’
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Olorode, therefore, called on political stakeholders in the state to work closely with INEC to adequately educate voters on how to correctly cast votes.
“The point really is that INEC alone cannot undertake voter education.
“In order to avoid or to minimise wasted votes, INEC needs partnership with civil society organisations, international development agencies, community leaders, political parties and the media.
“Political parties must create the time, must find the resources because there is no point if you have a large number of followers and about 10 per cent of their votes is wasted at the end of the day.’’ (NAN)
LED/OSA/YEE
Edited by Shittu Obassa/Controlled by Emmanuel Yashim
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