Storming the City of Benin, Mentoring Individuals Dream (MIND) in collaboration with Accountability Lab Nigeria and other CSOs have called on Edo People to come out en mass and cast their votes on 18th of March in Edo State .
Adorned with various inscriptions sensitizing the electorates on the need to participate in the upcoming State House of Assembly election , the Managing Director of MIND, Peter Aguebor in company of other CSOs led the group from the Kingsquare roundabout to down Sapele road before arriving at the State Secretariat of Nigeria Union of Journalists .
Speaking at the NUJ Secretariat, Mr. Peter Aguebor disclosed that his organization deemed it appropriate to sensitize and mobilize Edo People ahead of the Saturday March 18th House of Assembly election and to encourage them on the need not to be discouraged as a result of some of the hitches and pocket of violence recorded in the last election.
Mr. Peter Aguebor said after the Presidential election, so many Citizens were giving remarks on social media that indicate Voters apathy with the mindset that their votes don’t count and would therefore not participate in the upcoming elections coupled with the low turn out ovf voters .
According to him , apart from the rally, his organization is seeking partnership with the conventional media to spread the message to the electorates to enable them see the need to participate in the State House of Assembly election, noting how important the election is to the future of Edo People.
“The Legislative arm of government of any nation is the heart of representative democracy, it is the only place through which the aspiration of media and citizens are adequately represented through its various elected representatives, hence the need for a loud and conscious mobilization to disrupt the absurd previous scenario characterized by low turn out of voters”.
He however charged the media to ensure adequate dissemination of accurate information during and after the State House of Assembly election
Responding, the State Chairman of Edo NUJ, Comrade Festus Alenkhe commended the CSOs for advocating for Citizen Participation in electoral process.
Comrade Festus Alenkhe assured MIND Initiative that the media will help to syndicate and spread the message to Edo People and would also be ready to report on election day their experiences on the field in-line with Journalism ethics.