Rebuilding our electoral system: the profound impact shunning vote-buying makes!
Since 2006, CHRICED has had at the core of her work, the fostering democratic rights and participations across Nigeria. Her work in this area is geared towards encouraging democratic participation among citizens especially as regards; voting , political participation , and holding elected officials accountable to deliver on their promises prior to being elected. Our across but has not been limited to ; voter education, strengthening systems to enable citizens hold their political representatives accountable and working to end electoral practices that demean democratic processes.
Francis Duzaho, like many others in his community, saw nothing wrong with the practice of vote buying. Though he had not indulged in it , he didn’t quite frown at the practice. In addition to his view on vote buying, he also held other counter- democratic notions on political participation such as ; political god-fatherism, electoral nepotism, and the idea that political participation was a prerogative for the old rather than young people.
Francis is invited to a voting seminar in January 2022 that is put on by CESDA, one of the 10 cohort partners with the Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) on the “FCT Original Inhabitants project to improve the livelihoods of the indigenous people of the FCT in Nigeria.. At the session, a brief film on vote buying is shown. This is Dozaho's pivotal moment.
He learns through the video the great danger vote buying could pose to an efficient democratic process. He sadly understands that when corrupt people are elected into office through vote- buying, he sadly suffers for it. He is poised to take this message to his community so others can shun this practice.
He learns through the video the great danger vote buying could pose to an efficient democratic process. He sadly understands that when corrupt people are elected into office through vote- buying, he sadly suffers for it. He is poised to take this message to his community so others can shun this practice.
Returning to his community in Kubwa Abuja, Duzaho organized a 2-day workshop enlightening community members on the dangers of vote buying, the need for youth inclusion in politics.He went on to create a youth forum to enable youths in his community to push for good governance.
At the end of the two days, he sensitized 315 youths and community leaders in Kubwa ward on the dangers of vote buying and accepting politicians selling. They are awakened by what Duzaho has shared and pledge to make a change but it does not stop here.
At the end of the two days, he sensitized 315 youths and community leaders in Kubwa ward on the dangers of vote buying and accepting politicians selling. They are awakened by what Duzaho has shared and pledge to make a change but it does not stop here.
The primaries arrived 3 months after Duzaho’s seminar and the impact of his seminar is visible: increased voter turnout in his community, a reduction in reported cases of vote buying, people voting their desired candidate.
What effects would there be if more people heard about the dangers of buying votes? A consolidation of our democratic system to enable the election of competent leaders.
By making a donation to this cause here, you can support the campaign to end vote-buying in Nigeria.
