Kebbi INEC parleys NCWS on voters’ sensitisation

Haruna Aliyu Usman, Birnin Kebbi

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Kebbi State in collaboration with National Council of Women Society (NCWS), Kebbi chapter held a town hall meeting in Birnin Kebbi, with the theme gender focused civil societies. Over 100 women drawn from the 20 local governments participated in the interactive session that was geared towards sensitising women on the 2019 elections. The organisers of the meeting, Resident Electoral Commissioner of the state represented by the Administrative Secretary, Abdullahi Adamu Gujungu told women that the electoral body has changed its voting system to ease suffering for women during elections. He said that accreditation and voting take place simultaneously, adding that provisions have been made for the physically challenged persons. He noted that as part of the preparations INEC have held meetings with traditional rulers, also met and trained security personnel on the conduct of the elections, therefore women should come out enmass to cast ballots he urged them to avoid invalid votes by voting properly. The head of department, Voter Education Unit of the Commission, Alhaji Musa Auna called on women to avoid the use of henna before elections as it will not allow the card reader to recognise their thumbprint. He added that the Commission’s preparedness is remarkable as none sensitive materials have already arrived the state and training the trainers also concluded by INEC such as SPOs and POs that will conduct the polls. He said that presiding officers are in charge of polling units while supervisory officers supervises the presiding officers for accuracy and good conducts during the polls. In her speech the State President of the Women Societies, Hajiya Balkisu Atuna Danga thanked the organisers of the meeting women and civil societies who responded to her invitation. She stated that over 100 women from the 21 Local Governments of Kebbi attended the meeting. Danga added that before the town hall meeting her council has been sensitising women on how to vote and conduct themselves during elections. She maintained that aside that the state chapter is known for its campaign against gender violence and girl child education, “we have assisted women with cases of minor rapes; we have won some while some are still pending in court”. She urged women to speak up against gender discrimination, and displayed picture to the women on how they should vote neatly. Danga thanked the state government for its assistance to the Council. Two resource persons presented papers, the first presenter Hajiya Hannatu Fakai presented a paper titled ‘Issues and Priorities for 2019 Elections’. In the paper, she blamed politicians for capitalising on the illiteracy of the masses to exploit them during elections, and called on women to resist vote buying.