*THE SEVEN LEVELS OF PARTICIPATION IN GOVERNANCE AND POLITICS - #1-3*


_*If you are not a voter, then you are part of our problems in this country. You have no right to blame any government as you are an irresponsible citizen. That is the simple truth.*_ - Francis Adebayo


WHERE DO YOU BELONG?

*1. Unregistered Non-voters*
These are people who chose not to collect their PVC. It is amazing that people like this still complain about the government, when they neither got their PVCs nor voted.

Below are some of the excuses they give for not making efforts to take their PVCs.
1. My votes won’t count.
2. The queue is too long.
3. I am not interested in politics.

*2. Registered Non-voters*
These are those who registered, got their PVCs, but failed to vote... they have their PVCs, probably to use for identification when
required.

Their common excuses:
1. I'm afraid of violence on election day.
2. My votes won't count.
3. It is stressful.
4. It is a day of rest for me.

Take a look at the statistics from INEC as regards the general elections in 2015.

*2015 Summary:*
• Total Number of registered voters: 67,422,005
• Total Number of accredited voters: 31,746,490
• Total Number of valid voters: 28,587,564
• Total Number of rejected voters: 844,519
• Total Number of voters cast: 29,432,083
From these figures, *35,675,515 registered citizens did not vote at all*. This is significantly high. This implies that there were more registered non-voters than the number of people who voted.
This figure doesn’t include those who didn’t even register at all.
*2,314,407 accredited voters did not vote.* These people came out for accreditation, but eventually didn’t come back to complete the voting process by casting their vote into the ballot box.
_(These are the ones that really give room for rigging and I dare say this is the number the people rigging couldn't fill after they have exhausted their manpower. *Emphasis: Mine*_).

*3. Voters*
These are the people who go out against all odds to vote on election days. Some even do more than voting: they *_stay till the votes are counted._* I BELIEVE NO SACRIFICE IS TOO GREAT FOR THE BUILDING OF OUR NATION. We have no other country, and we must play our part in the building process.


_*From the book, SO YOU HATE POLITICS by Francis Adebayo*_