The voter education team of the Social and Integral Development Centre (SIDEC) appealed to traders at Onitsha Main Market to take active part in the forthcoming governorship election in Anambra State.
Addressing the traders, Executive Director of SIDEC, Mrs Ugochi Ehiahuruike, warned against the negative implications of apathy.
The voter education campaign is being executed under the Inclusive Mobilization for Participation, Advocacy, and Civic Transformation (Project IMPACT) being implemented by the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room in collaboration with SIDEC with funding support from UK-FCDO.
Ehiahuruike said, “Among those who don’t care about voting are traders. They think that government is not feeding them and they have no business with government.
“But, as a matter of fact, government impacts everyone either positively or negatively.
“In the 2021 election, only 92,000 of the over 1.6 million voters came out to vote. That was too poor and we don’t want a repeat of it.
“Under Project IMPACT, we target 25% voter turnout. I am confident that if over 100,000 traders across our markets all go out to vote, we will surpass even the 25% target.
“Do not stay at home that day. Come out and cast your vote. If you stay away, others who turn out will make a choice for you whether you like it or not.
The SIDEC ED stressed the need to incorporate women traders and persons with disability into market leadership structure.
“We need to work towards inclusion in market leadership structure. A situation where we give women only woman leader’s position does not speak of inclusion.
“Persons with disabilities are not even involved at all and that is why they do not feel the sense of belonging. We must treat everyone equally – that is our message.
Ehiahuruike also stressed the need to keep the peace of Anambra State before, during and after the poll.
“Peace is sacrosanct for development. Where there is violence, progress and development are not possible. We all must shun violence so that we can have a peaceful state after the election.
In a remark, the Chairman, Onitsha Main Market, Mr Chijioke Okpalaugo, who took active part in the shop-to-shop sensitization, appreciated SIDEC for the intervention.
“I am happy with this sensitization programme. From here, we will take this message to every line in this market so that we can mobilize everyone to come out and exercise their civic right.
“We hope that INEC will put everything in place so that we can have a good exercise that will be free, fair and credible.
“By the grace of God, I with my executive will do our best to mobilize our members for this election,” Okpalaugo assured.
The voter education session availed participants opportunity to ask questions about the electoral process and voting procedures.
