Standup for Women Society, SWS, Bayelsa Chapter, has witnessed a low turnout, at various centers across Yenagoa communities, where the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had displayed the preliminary voters register.
At the Ogu ward, the Community development Chairman, CDC, Mr. Meniwoze Simangi said, there is need for the extension of collection of PVCs in the ward level, which he said enough sensitisation and publicity will help the community.
Simangi disclosed this on Friday when a nongovernmental women advocacy group, Standup for women society, visited the community, to ascertain the level of turnout.
Simangi lamented that, the time frame is short, and no enough publicity and sensitisation sensitisation.
He said, “the exercise has been on, I think it has been effective since on Monday, but the major challenge we are facing is publicity. This is a locality, we’ve not been able to make enough publicity.
objections. Others are supposed to come and collect their PVCs, but low turnout has marred the whole exercise.
“Publicity is a major challenge, based on that we are experiencing low turnout.
“If INEC can extend the date for collection of PVCS it will help the community people a lot.”
Earlier, the SWS Chairperson , Lib Eunice Nnachi, said that the group came to ascertain the level of turnout on the display exercise, following the Electoral Act 2022 Amended.
Nnachi who said, “the exercise took off at various wards across Bayelsa, on Saturday 12th November till the last day today, averred that, SWS Bayelsa state visit to Ogu community on INEC Voter register’s display is part of our social responsibility to inform and educate the public.”
Mr Onis Peter Waripamo the INEC official at Ogu community said, they was good turn out in the first two days, but mostly in the morning ours, but today is the last day. From tomorrow they display exercise will start at the local government areas.
Waripamo said, “different persons have been coming to the ward to ensure that their names are on the register. This is also part of efforts to further clean up the register ahead of the 2023 elections.
Communities visited include, Ogu, Akaba, and Obogoro.