…flags off state-wide campaign for peaceful elections
The National Orientation Agency, (NOA) has urged residents of Ondo State to participate actively in the 2027 general elections and reject voter apathy, vote buying and electoral violence.
The agency also called on political parties, candidates and their supporters to embrace peaceful campaigns and respect the electoral process to ensure credible and violence-free elections.
The Director-General of NOA, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, made the call at the flag-off of the agency’s statewide grassroots mobilisation campaign in Ondo State, held at the palace of the Alara of Ilara-Mokin in Ifedore Local Government area.
The Director-General, who was represented by the Ondo State Director of the agency, Bola Oguntuase, said the campaign was aimed at sensitising residents across the state to the importance of peaceful electoral participation.
The programme, held on Thursday, November 5, had the theme, “Your Vote, Your Voice, Our Future: Say No to Apathy, Vote Buying and Violence — Let’s Build a United Nigeria in 2027.”
Issa-Onilu said the campaign was not limited to Ifedore Local Government but would be extended to all 18 local government areas of Ondo State.
He said community orientation and mobilisation officers had been mandated to take the message of peaceful elections to every nook and cranny of their communities.
According to him, the agency would engage traditional and religious institutions, community leaders, youth and women’s groups, political stakeholders and other relevant organisations to promote responsible electoral participation.
He said, “Our chief mobilisers and orientation officers have been mandated to carry the message to every nook and cranny of their communities on the need for peaceful electoral processes and acceptable elections.
“The programme is not for a local government. It is for Ondo State in general. We have 18 local governments, and we expect our officers to take the message to the people wherever they are.”
The NOA director-general said voter apathy remained a major challenge to democracy, urging eligible Nigerians not to allow frustration or disappointment with the political process to discourage them from voting.
He said the ballot remained a powerful instrument through which citizens could influence leadership, demand accountability and determine the direction of governance.
Issa-Onilu also warned against vote buying, describing the practice as one that undermined the integrity of elections and deprived citizens of the opportunity to make independent political choices.
He urged voters to reject monetary inducements and candidates to conduct issue-based campaigns rather than resort to financial inducements, intimidation or violence.
The director-general further called on youths not to allow themselves to be used as instruments of political violence, stressing that no political ambition was worth the loss of human lives.
He urged traditional and religious leaders to use their influence to promote tolerance, peaceful coexistence and responsible citizenship among their followers.
The agency also appealed to the media and social media users to verify information before sharing it, warning that misinformation, hate speech and inflammatory messages could undermine peaceful elections.
Issa-Onilu said NOA would work with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, civil society organisations, political parties and other stakeholders to ensure that voter education reached all segments of society.
He stressed that the agency remained non-partisan and was committed to promoting national consciousness, civic responsibility and peaceful democratic participation.
Responding, the Alara of Ilara-Mokin, Oba Adeyemi Adefeyinti, urged NOA to intensify its campaign against vote buying and educate residents on the importance of voting for credible candidates.
The traditional ruler lamented voter apathy and urged the agency to sustain its sensitisation efforts ahead of the 2027 elections.
He called on participants to take the message beyond the meeting and educate residents in their respective communities on the need to participate peacefully in the electoral process.
Oba Adefeyinti also urged political parties to shun do-or-die politics, noting that not every candidate could emerge victorious in an election.
He said the credibility of the electoral process depended on the awareness and participation of the people, urging stakeholders to ensure that elections were conducted without violence or manipulation
In her remarks, the INEC representative, Adepoju Fisayo, urged eligible residents to visit the commission’s offices to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), noting that some unclaimed cards were still available.
She said INEC was prepared for the 2027 general elections and remained an impartial electoral institution that did not belong to any political party.
Adepoju also said measures had been put in place to assist persons with disabilities and elderly voters during elections, adding that efforts were being made to ensure their participation.
Representing the police, the Divisional Crime Officer (DCO) of Ilara-Mokin Divisional Police Headquarters, Ademola Akano, commended NOA for the sensitisation programme.
Akano assured residents that the police were prepared to prevent electoral violence before, during and after the elections.
He warned that anyone found engaging in violence would be arrested and prosecuted, adding that the prohibition on the sale of alcoholic drinks during the election period remained in force.
A participant, Sunday Olofinsawo, thanked NOA for the programme and said residents understood that elections should not be treated as a do-or-die affair.
Olofinsawo appealed to INEC to decentralise PVC collection to make it easier for residents to obtain their cards without travelling long distances.
He said improved access to PVC collection points would encourage more eligible voters to participate in the 2027 general elections.
[THE HOPE]
