…Says Recent Electoral law Killed Public Trust in elections
Omoyele Sowore, Chairman of the African Action Congress (AAC), on election day visited several polling units across Kabusa, Asokoro, and Lugbe in the Federal Capital Territory to monitor the progress of voting.
Speaking with journalists during the visits, Sowore described voter participation as “abysmal,” noting that turnout across the areas visited was significantly lower than expected.
He attributed the low participation to declining public confidence in the electoral process, arguing that the refusal to strengthen transparency initiatives has discouraged many Nigerians from engaging in elections.
Sowore specifically referenced recent amendments to the Electoral Act, stating that the removal or weakening of provisions mandating electronic transmission of results has eroded trust in the system.
“When transparency mechanisms are diluted, people step away. Nigerians want to know that their votes count and that results cannot be manipulated,” he said.
Following the visits to Kabusa, Asokoro, and Lugbe, Sowore proceeded toward Orozo, where the AAC is presenting a councillorship candidate. However, access to the area was reportedly obstructed by personnel of the Nigerian Army, who had mounted a blockade that caused heavy traffic gridlock, making it impossible for him to reach the community.
The development further complicated election-day activities in the area.
Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.
Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.
He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.
Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).
He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.
He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.
Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled: Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.
