By Okechukwu Onuegbu

Stakeholders in Anambra State, Thursday, advocated for increased public awareness on the country's electoral reforms, new electoral acts, implementations and prosecution of offenders in order to strengthen the country's electoral system.

The stakeholders, who included civil society organisations, community leaders, women and youth leaders, observed that majority have neither electronic nor printed copies of the new electoral acts as well as lacked adequate knowledge of its key provisions capable of engineering good governance.

They spoke at one day citizens town hall meeting on electoral reform held at Awka, the State capital by the Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA) in collaboration with MacArthur Foundation, Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) and Women's Right Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA).

Speaking at the programme, the Executive Director, PAACA, Mr Ezenwa Nwagwu, explained that political education was necessary to expose people to their various rights and obligations, while collating ideas and contributions from relevant stakeholders for improved electoral processes.

Nwagwu, who disclosed that various stakeholders have roles to play in strengthening the Nigeria electoral system, enjoined the citizens to acquire the electronic or printed copies of the electoral act and study to become aware of their key provisions and implementation strategies.

Contributing, the Anambra State Director, National Orientation Agency, NOA, Mr Edozie Ajaegbu, argued that poor political culture, absence of internal party democracy, and electoral corruption have continued to undermine the ability of the electoral process to produce candidates who can effectively represent the aspirations and yearnings of Nigerians.

Other speakers, including the representatives of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Samuel Nweke, Civil Society members, Dr Dennis Ekemezie and Dr Ego Uzoezie, hailed the organisers of the programme, while noting that increased voters education even when there were no elections would go along way in reducing voters apathy, vote buying and other offences.

Earlier, the Programme Manager, PAACA, Isaiah Amonye and Cordinator of PAACA in Anambra, Mrs Eucharia Anekwe, explained that the town hall meeting would enhanced public understanding and awareness regarding electoral reforms, as well as present citizen driven recommendations to the National Assembly and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for consideration.