Ahead of February and March elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in collaboration with Centre for Information Technology And Development (CITAD) has sensitized women groups in Bauchi state to mobilize their fellow women in their various domains to come out and exercise their franchise on February 16th and March 2nd general elections.
Speaking during the sensitization meeting held at Chartwell Hotel, Bauchi, the representative of INEC Mrs Maduneme Francisca, who is a Principal Administrative Officer at INEC national headquarters Abuja advised women to participate fully in the elections saying they constitute high number of voters in the country.
She also urged them women to stay away from trouble zones and report any person who intimidates them to security operatives at polling units.
Also speaking the Bauchi state Commissioner of women affairs Hajiya Rukayya Kewa represented by a senior staff in the ministry Hajiya Talatu Musa, said although women are encouraged to come out to exercise their franchise, they should be conscious of their safety by avoiding argument that might lead to their being harassed at polling stations and reporting cases of intimidations to security agents.
She urged the women to warn their youth children to eschew violence during all elections emphasizing that the success of the upcoming elections lies on all state holders including security agencies, voters and Civil Society organizations.
In his speech, the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) represented by the administrative secretary of the commission Alhaji Baba Bukar Usman who stated that INEC has so far achieved about 85 per cent of its election activities in the state said collection of Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) will be closed on Monday 11th.
He asked those who registered but were yet to collect their PVCs to do so before the deadline lapses.
In his remarks, CITAD representative Mohammed Hassan Chiroma explained that the meeting was aimed at enhancing women’s participation in the forthcoming elections urging the participants to step down the message to other women in their respective areas.
