The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has implored the support of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), saying they have critical role to play in the credibility of any electoral process.

This was disclosed at a zonal sensitisation for Voter Education Providers (VEPs), organised by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in Sokoto, yesterday.

Participants at the workshop were drawn from across seven North West states of Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara and Kaduna.

The Head of Department (HOD), VEP Sokoto State, Mohammed Takai, said INEC partnered the CSOs because of their information dissemination impact on the society regarding voter education and electoral processes in general.

Administrative Secretary of INEC in Sokoto, Hauwa Kangiwa, said, with the participants as critical stakeholders, it is expected that the knowledge acquired from the workshop would assist in ensuring that voters are educated, voting information properly disseminated and mobilisation adequately carried out.

She, therefore, urged the stakeholders to partner the commission in ensuring a hitch-free conduct of the 2023 general elections, through awareness and proper voter education to communities.

On September 28, 2022, presidential and National Assembly electioneering kicked off, while those of gubernatorial and Houses of Assembly began on October 12.

UNDP Chief Technical Adviser for Elections, Mr. Deryck Fritz, said while democratic elections could contribute significantly to the advancement of Nigeria’s development aspirations, it is only possible if voters could participate fully and freely in the electoral process.

“To do this, citizens must have the information at their disposal that will facilitate their choice of representatives. They must be able to distinguish between credible and non-credible sources of information, so that they can trust that their vote will matter.

“They must also believe that the entity entrusted with organising the elections is impartial and is there to serve the interests of all Nigerians, including women, youth, persons with disabilities, internally displaced persons and other traditionally marginalised groups,” Fritz said.

Moreover, citizens must understand the mechanics of the elections, as well as the respective roles of INEC, the political parties and their own role as voters, he added.