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Mrs Sarah Jibrin, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Ethics and Values, on Saturday decried low turnout of  voters during the FCT area councils’ elections.

Jibrin stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja while monitoring elections in Area 8 polling units.

She stressed the need for active participation of all Nigerians in the electoral process, noting that ``Nigerians should not give up, as things will get better with time''.

``There is low turnout of voters, but it is still midday, since the closing time is 4 p.m. But it is obvious that some Nigerians are not willing to give up.

``Those that endeavour to come out and cast their votes, believe that the system will get better in the course of time,’’ Jibrin said.

She called on all Nigerians, especially the youth, who are the most important segment of every nation to make useful contributions for the development of democracy

Jibrin attributed voters’ apathy in the FCT area councils to the security situation in the country.

She expressed the commitment of her office to embark on massive awareness campaign to educate Nigerians on the need to imbibe good values.

``I will continue to encourage youths to take active part in politics because youths are future stakeholders and agents of national security,'' she said.

Meanwhile, the PDP Chairmanship Candidate of Kuje Area Council, Mr Ishaku Shaban, said that the large turnout of voters during the FCT councils’ polls was as a result of adequate sensitisation of electorate.

Shaban made this known on Saturday in Yenche ward polling station, Kuje, while briefing newsmen on the turnout of people for the election.

According to him, although, the previously conducted elections are free and fair, but there is voter apathy.

He observed that there was rumour that PDP had planned to rig the polls, adding that the rumour was not true.

Shaban said, "we employed one-on-one approach in creating relevant awareness for people to participate in the election and vote for PDP in our community.

"It is my hope that people will turn out in their large numbers to vote in future elections to reduce voter apathy in the country.

He also commended INEC for early preparations for the FCT elections, adding that the INEC efforts contributed to the large turnout of voters in the elections. (NAN)

Sheikh Musa Ibrahim, the Chief Imam of Dakata Central Mosque, Kano, has enjoined all Muslims in the country to desist from violence as it is against the teaching of Holy Qur’an. Delivering a sermon at the Friday Jumat service in Kano, Ibrahim urg...

Prof. Attahiru Jega, National Chairman of INEC, says he is prepared to have both domestic and international observers for the 2015 General Election.

Jega told the South Africa Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Johannesburg, South Africa, that election observation adds value and credibility to the electoral process.

``But the challenges are there, given that some of the international observers work to undermine the integrity and sovereignty of the country in the course of observing elections or their actions seem to indicate this.

``It is important to conduct election in such a way that there will not be external interference in the country's integrity.

``If the role of election observers are carefully defined, there should be less worry about whether they are African or non-African observers,’’ Jega said

He said INEC would be willing to have many observers for the 2015 Nigeria general elections.

``In Nigeria, we have recognised the value of election observers by creating an enabling environment for them to  witness the process, produce reports we can look at and see how we can improve on conducting elections in Nigeria.

``They were there in 2011, we saw the value of their observation; we have taken many of their recommendations and injected them into our preparation for 2015 election.

``We will be glad to have as many observers in Nigeria to witness the 2015 election,’’ Jega said.

NAN reports that former President Olusegun Obasanjo and some African leaders have called for a ban of non-African election observers in the continent.

``I am very excited with my participation in this symposium which brought many experts and people of diverse background and experience together to asses and evaluate almost two decades of election in Africa.

``It is a very important undertaking because election observation mission has been striving to assess the free, fair and credible electoral process in Africa.

``The issue of domestic observers was given prominence and we now see the need to involve more of them in the electoral process.

``There is need to harmonise various election observer missions to derive maximum benefit in process.

``There should be diverse background in election observers, a situation in which virtually all the election observers are lawyers is not good for the electoral process,’’ Jega said.

The 7th Annual symposium of the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA), is to assess the two decades of election observation in Africa.

The Ebonyi House of Assembly Deputy Speaker, Chief Valentine Okike, has been removed from office for alleged insubordination, promotion of disaffection among members and improper dressing to official functions. Moving the motion for his removal, Mr Chr...