Reps-elect blames voter apathy on poor awareness

LAGOS Mainland House of Representatives-elect, Jide Jimoh, yesterday blamed poor political education by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the low turnout of voters in Saturday’s governorship and House of Assembly elections.

Jimoh told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that INEC’s inadequate time for electioneering also contributed to the voter apathy recorded in the poll.

“It takes two to tango, the electoral officers must also embark on proper enlightenment, political parties must also intensify their enlightenment and campaign”.

Voting is voluntary, you cannot coerce people to go out and vote; someone may have his permanent voter card and decide to keep it at home,” he said.

The reps-elect noted that the period of campaign should not be too close, saying that the time for campaign was too short.

“In U.S you have up to three months for campaign before elections; in Nigeria, it is a few weeks you have to campaign,” saying that the number of months for campaign should be increased for future elections.