The Executive Director of Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA), Ezenwa Nwagwu, has revealed that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), used in the 2023 general elections contributed 98 per cent success during the electoral exercise.
He said the BAVAS helped reduce the cases of manual manipulation of figures and the speed of the electoral process.
Nwagwu, disclosed this while speaking at a one-day citizens’ town hall meeting on electoral reforms in Awka, the Anambra State capital on Thursday.
On the objectives of the meeting, PAACA boss noted that the sensitization meeting is to foster inclusive dialogue among citizens from varied backgrounds concerning electoral reform and constitutional amendment, enhance public understanding and awareness regarding electoral reform and complete and present citizen-derived recommendations to the National Assembly and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for consideration.
According to him, PAACA is organising the town hall meeting Nationwide including the FCT to educate the electorates on the electoral reform guiding the country’s election management process.
While describing Anambra as the least voting state in Nigeria, Nwagwu urged the stakeholders not to relent in sensitizing the people, mostly, at the grassroots on how elections should be conducted in a free, fair and credible manner in subsequent elections in the state and the nation at large.
He also called on the people to familiarize themselves with the Electoral Act.
In his remark, the Anambra State Director of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr Edozie Ajaegbu, noted that poor political culture, absence of internal party democracy, and electoral corruption have continued to undermine the ability of the electoral process to produce candidates who can effectively represent the aspirations and yearnings of Nigerians.
He, however, observed that since the return of democracy in 1999, Nigeria’s electoral process has progressively improved judging by various factors, including citizens’ demands, Civil Society Organisations’ advocacy, legislative reforms, credible leadership in INEC, and International supports.
“Having actively participated in previous Nigerian elections, Mr Ajaegbu, represented by Mr Ignatius Obiora, said NOA, in line with its mandate of ensuring public enlightenment, mass mobilization, voters education and feedback from the public to government, has identified certain traits in voter behaviours and the electoral processes, which if not tackled, can slow down or at worse derail Nigeria democratic process.
“Some of the voter behaviours he described as worrisome include the issue of voided votes, the challenge of vote buying and selling, and the need for peaceful elections.
While commending PAACA for the bold initiative, Mr Ajaegbu called for partnership with other donor agencies to ensure that the goals of the town hall meeting are materialized, even as it assures PAACA and the society of her readiness to support the enthronement of a genuine democratic process in Nigeria.
In their separate speeches, the Ohaneze Ndigbo representative, Chief Samuel Nweke, ANPP State Chairman, Chief Martin Ameke, ASATU youth leader, Ken Okoli, women leader, Mrs Ego Uzoezie and Frank Ebuka commended the PAACA management for organising the programme in the state.