Ondo State Governor, Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has called on Nigeria’s economic leaders to focus on driving national awareness campaigns aimed at increasing voter participation in elections.

In an interview on Arise News on Monday, Governor Aiyedatiwa highlighted that while many Nigerians register for their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), a significant number of them fail to engage actively in the political process. He stressed that there is a need to encourage citizens to participate fully in elections, noting that voter apathy remains a challenge.

“We need to create a national awareness campaign to encourage people to vote. It’s important that citizens understand the value of their vote and are motivated to take part in the electoral process,” Aiyedatiwa said. “Not everyone who registers for a PVC becomes politically active. This issue is not confined to Ondo State; it’s a nationwide problem.”

The governor added that while many people obtain their PVCs as a form of documentation, they do not follow through by voting during elections. This phenomenon, he argued, has been observed in elections across various states and is not limited to Ondo.

Electoral Process and Vote-Buying Allegations
Aiyedatiwa also addressed the issue of alleged vote-buying during recent elections in the state. He dismissed claims of widespread malpractice, asserting that the election was free and fair.

“People are entitled to their opinions, but not every area was visited by the so-called civil society organizations (CSOs) and election observers,” the governor remarked. “While there were some delays in accreditation due to technical issues with the BVAS system in certain locations, the voting process eventually ran smoothly. Once the BVAS system adjusted, the process picked up and was completed efficiently.”

Aiyedatiwa explained that despite initial delays in some polling units, the final voter turnout was consistent with previous elections. He pointed out that the final results reflected a typical electoral pattern, with no irregularities impacting the overall process.

Conclusion
Governor Aiyedatiwa’s comments underscore the need for greater efforts to educate and motivate Nigerian voters to participate in the democratic process. With the 2024 elections still fresh in public memory, his call for improved voter awareness reflects a growing recognition that sustaining and strengthening democracy requires the active involvement of the electorate.