GPAAN ON VOTERS EDUCATION

                                                                              

                GPAAN's members during their last meeting

It was the first meeting of Guild of Public Affairs Analysts of Nigeria (GPAAN) for 2019. Dr. Joe Odumakin, President of Women Arise for Change Initiative, graciously seconded the Senior Programme Officer, Mr. Olufemi Akindele Lawson of the organization to give tips on voters' education to members of the Guild.

It was a great meeting as the facilitator reaffirmed the very important role members of the Guild play on national issues being the only organization that have frequent interface with media organizations across the country. To this end, he said members of the Guild have the magic wand to influence the large voting masses as to the direction they should take during elections.

The highlight of the brief training are:
(1) Appeal to voters to get transistor radio which is the cheapest and most widely used information and education medium.
(2) INEC, political parties and civil society groups have the sole responsibility to deepen democracy in the country.
(3) Political parties should educate voters on elections.
(4) INEC should make the process of registration and collection of voter's cards much more easier.
(5) Nigerians who haven't collected their voter's cards should do so before the next election so that they can vote in the next election.
(6) Voters shouldn't see the voter's cards as only a tool to get their children into public schools or for bank use but as a very important tool to choose people that should lead them.
(7) Performing politicians wouldn't buy votes.
(8) GPAAN should educate the masses about the danger of selling their votes for a loaf of bread that will not take them anywhere.
(9) The electorates should participate and determine the outcome of the next elections.
(10) Members of GPAAN should take it as their duty to conscientize Nigerians on democracy and election