Today, the 23rd of January, 2019, I watched with amazement the lamentation of INEC on the continuous degeneration of voter apathy. The figures revealed a steady decline in the number of voters in each successful election since the year 1999. #LeadershipTalks
The story, for me, is not in the decline but the seemingly pretentious ignorance of INEC as per the factors responsible for the apathy. #LeadershipTalks
Honestly, I am in a state of stupor as to the feigned ignorance of INEC as per the reasons for the apathy. I find it difficult to believe that INEC has not done a diagnosis of the challenge much less a prognosis. #LeadershipTalks
However, since the figure continues to decline, we can safely assume that INEC may not truly know the reasons for the apathy or in the alternative, the body has chosen to do nothing as in the character of public bodies in Nigeria. #LeadershipTalks
However, and for whatever it is worth, let me assume the ignorance of INEC in this regard and share my convincing reasons for the continuous apathy with the hope of breathing life into a potential solution. #LeadershipTalks
My discussion here is skeletal largely as the full engagement comes up in my next column in the SUN Newspaper on Thursday. #LeadershipTalks
Factors responsible range from violence and thuggery, lack of faith in the Electoral body by potential voters, lack of and/or insufficient democratic dividends, inelegant voting patterns, particularly the frustrating location of polling booths.. #LeadershipTalks
integrity challenged electoral register, poor voters education, cumbersome registration process, monetisation of electoral process, effect of godfatherism and many more that will be agitated in the column. #LeadershipTalks
Suffice to say however that except these factors are addressed, voter apathy will remain. I am receptive to several other factors that can be unveiled in the course of this our engagement. God willing, we shall continue next week. #LeadershipTalks
