Between December 3, 2022 and February 4th, 2023, the Catholic Diocese of Nsukka would have toured the seven local government areas in Enugu North senatorial zone to sensitise the electorate on dangers of selling their votes, and to fully participate in the 2023 general elections.
Some politicians attempt to influence voting ahead of the 2023 general elections in many ways. They include asking voters to submit their Permanent Voters’ Cards, bank accounts, bank verification numbers, and even photographs. Against this background, the Catholic Diocese of Nsukka, under its Justice, Development and Peace Commission, recently kick-started sensitisation programmes to check such tendencies, and to build voting consciousness in electorate.
Between December 3, 2022 and February 4th, 2023, the Catholic Diocese of Nsukka would have toured the seven local government areas in Enugu North senatorial zone to sensitise the electorate on dangers of selling their votes, and to fully participate in the 2023 general elections. Contestants are to appear at selected venues on different days to interact with electorate. The local government areas are Udenu, Isi-Uzo, Uzo-Uwani, Nsukka, Igboeze South, Igboeze North and Igbo-Etiti. The venues of the interactive sessions are designated Catholic churches. Candidates involved are those of state House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate and governorship.
Justification For The Initiative
The head of the public enlightenment unit of Justice, Development and Peace Commission, Catholic Diocese of Nsukka, Rev Fr Dr Emeka Ngwoke, said the initiative is to fight vote-buying and to increase the voting consciousness of the electorate. In his words, “The power lies in the Permanent Voters’ Cards. When you sell your PVCs or give out the codes, you are simply saying that your interest can be ignored. It will certainly be ignored. Your most treasured possession in a democracy is the right to vote. Politicians are afraid of the votes. When votes are cast against them, they are in danger.
“It means a politician will do anything to get access to votes. Any group of people that do not want to be sidelined actively must be politically active. The opportunities come once in four years to make a stake that you have an input in public decisions. Political enlightenment in the diocese is a big business. A populace that is ignorant about how a society functions is dangerous. Some of us wear the barge of political apathy as honour. We should have time for politics.”
THE WHISTLER reports that JDPC is a structural response to the Second Vatican Council appealing for the church’s involvement in the affairs and development of the society. It is geared toward a positive change in the human condition, such as poverty, religious bigotry, election malpractices, diseases and injustice.
Position Of Political Parties/Contestants
Barr Hyginus Ugwu, the House of Representatives candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance for Udenu/Igboeze North Federal Constituency in the 2023 general elections, commended the initiative, adding however that the sincerity of the interactions will determine the objectivity of the church in delving into politics.
According to him, “The outcome will determine the credibility of the meetings. If all the candidates are given a level playing field, the initiative is excellent. The failure of the Christian Association of Nigeria to do the right thing towards credible elections is what Catholic Diocese of Nsukka has come to fill the void. One would suspect insincerity when opinions of the electorate are being aggregated for ulterior motives.
“But I want the church to focus more on sensitising the electorate to resist vote-buying and manipulations. If church can talk to their members and let them know that vote-buying is not good, it is okay. Not only the Catholic Church, other faith-based organisations and groups can emulate it. The requests for NINs, BVNs, PVCs, account numbers and so on are an emerging e-vote-buying peculiar to Nigeria.”
Labour Party’s public relations officer, Enugu State, Ibuchukwu Ezike, said, “I thank the Catholic Church of Nsukka Diocese. It is a brilliant programme. But candidates should also submit their written manifestoes for references in future. Most politicians can talk, but immediately they win, it becomes a case of a monkey given water with a cup.
“We hardly ever have access to them after the elections until another four years. The church should also organise post-election town-hall meetings for the successful ones to assess their performances. Talking is absolutely different from action.”
For the APC state public relations officer, Mr Charles Solo-Ako, “It is a laudable initiative, and will help in ensuring credible elections in 2023.”