The Voters Union, a programme of Be-The-Change Organisation (BCO), a civic advocacy organisation, says it is committed to increasing the chances of peaceful, credible elections and protection of voters voices.
Voters Union Chairman, Ms Diana Olabisi, who briefed newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja, said that the group envisioned a well-informed passionate voters that were hard to be compromised.
She said the decision to create Voters Union came after a rigorous research for solution to boosting voters mood and increasing political participation.
According to her, Voters Union is a voter advocacy platform where voters connect to achieve common goals.
Olabisi listed the goals of the group to include: increasing voters access to information
To educate voters on voters rights, duties and responsibilities; to minimize oppression and suppression of voters voices, to reduce the toxicity in political atmosphere; to maintain and improve relationship between the voters and the voted.
With Voters Union, protecting constituency integrity, protecting our votes, and election follow ups becomes easy.
This will check the right of citizens to participate in public affairs without intimidation or favour, she said.
She said that the widespread development of non-partisan election monitoring around the world was a tangible evidence of citizens desire for responsive, transparent, and democratic governance achievable through voter education.
The chairman said that by providing voter education, election monitoring, vote protection, and constituency integrity, the group was working to advance democratic goals and strengthening democratic institutions.
She said that Voters Union had made conscious decision for monitoring efforts that would safeguard electoral integrity and create governmental and political accountability.
On his part, Mr Emeka Ejezie, National President, Actors Guild of Nigeria, said he came to lend support to Voters Union.
He said that the most important persons in politics are the voters not the voted.
We need to protect our votes so that our voice will count, before, during and after election.
That is only the way we can effect a change and get the people we want into offices.
We have 150 members in 32 states; as role models, we want to join our voices with Voters Union, he said.
He said the guild always made meaningful impact in any sector it identified with.
Source: NAN