ABEOKUTA– Ahead of the August 16 Remo Federal Constituency by-election, Segun Sowunmi, the former spokesperson to People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has called for an improved voters participation.
Sowunmi, who is the converner of The Alternative, a forum for sensitising voters added that electorate should see their voters card beyond means of identification, but rather use it to exercise their franchise during elections.
The PDP chieftain stated this during a re-orientation and advocacy programme, with participants drawn from Ifo and Ewekoro local government area of Ogun state.
Sowunmi, represented by the South West chairman of the group, Olusola Salau bemoaned the attitude and turnout of residents during elections, saying everyone must be involved in the process of choosing a leader.
He maintained that Nigerians cannot continue to complain about the government when they are not involved in the process of choosing the leader.
“What we realize is that many people during the election period don’t go out to vote even though the election day is a work free day.
“As one of our project, we are telling people that this is the right time to get involve in the process so that they can choose the best out of the candidate to lead the rest.
“Nigeria is one. Bigotry should be eradicated and we must all be involve in this process of choosing the next leaders in our country.
“If you check the INEC portal and most of the newpapers, and television houses, INEC every day is saying that they have alot of PVC uncollected. So, how are they going to reflect in the voting system even when, the system to choose a leader has been violated by the number of voters card that has been issued but not collected?.
“You must be involved in this process to choose a leader, you cannot just sit in your house and be complaining about a leader or government who is not performing when you didn’t get involve in the process of choosing that leader.
“What is the essence of you complaining about a government not performing when you are not even getting involved? Why are you having a voters card and you are only using it as an identity card, when they are looking for ID you use your voters card, and where as you are not using it to vote for the leaders you want”, he queried
Sowunmi stressed that the goal of the group is to inspire a new mindset across the country, and ingnite a new set of voters towards politics ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“We are not just talking, we are doing the heavy lifting required to build a better nation,” he added
