A BRIEF REPORT OF PLATEAU PEACE ARCHITECTURE (PAD) DIALOGUE MEETING ATTENDED BY DREP PROJECT STAFF ON 26TH FEBRUARY, 2015 AT CABINET OFFICE, J. D. GOMWAK SECRETARIAT.

Ø Commencement:   The meeting commenced with registration of the participants then the opening prayers (second stanza of the Nigeria national anthem).  Participants all introduced themselves and the....
organization/community they represent then a brief welcome speech by the PAD chairman and the country Director, Search for common ground then an opening remark by the representative of the Nigeria Stability and Reconciliation Programme (nsrp).

Ø Presentations:

·        INEC:         The commission through the Deputy Director in charge of civic education, Mr. Osarehin Imahiyereobo said though some people are yet to receive their Voters cards, there is no cause for alarm. He said “Nigerians will get their PVCs before the elections. They in the commission don’t sleep; working day and night to see that the PVCs are distributed to all those who are duly registered”. Giving the breakdown of PVC received and distribution in the State, Mr. Osarehin said 2,003,046 people were registered in the state, 1,430,852 PVCs had been distributed out of the 1,675,572 received as at 25^th February and the rest are yet to come. He then gave figures as received and distributed to each local government of the state. There shall be a total of 4,041 voting points across the state during the elections he said, so number of voters in a pulling unit will determine the numbers of pulling points in that pulling unit and this he said is to make the process faster. Those who seek to check if they’re in the voters register should Google “INEC voters status” and follow the instruction he added. In conclusion he said it’s illegal to be in possession of multiple PVCs and defaulters are likely to face jail terms and fines. Finally he said complains or observations should be forwarded as SMS to: 07033853096, 08033489731 or mail to: osaimahis@yahoo.com.

·        National Orientation Agency:  The agency through its secretary said they are doing their best to ensure a violence free election by educating the masses on electoral violence and carrying out numerous voters’ education exercises across the state. Visit www.noa.gov.ng for more info he concluded.

·        Other presentations include that of the police and DSS who didn’t disclose their actions plans due to security reasons.

Ø Questions:

·        Will the vigilante participate?

·        If INEC is saying Vote and wait till your vote is counted and police are saying vote and go. Who should be heard?

Ø Actions points:

·        We should take information to their communities and bring feedback to next meeting (with pictures).

·        We should identify those in possession of more than one PVC and report to INEC.

·        We should enlighten our communities on the need to

Ø Conclusion:          the secretary to the state government through his representative appreciated all for finding time to be in attendance, pleaded with everyone to preach peace in his/her community, then urged everyone to be available for the next meeting in two weeks time. The meeting was then concluded with the national pledge.

PLATEAU STATE INEC P.R.O DISPLAYS HOW THE VOTERS PVC CARD READER WORKS

NOTE: Questions shall be answered at next meeting.

Posted by: Prosper Ikechukwu Egeonu (Drep Project Officer)

Drep Program Manager: Chris Ogbonna

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