An Abuja-based Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Africana League Development Initiative (ALDI), has held an education rally, sensitising residents of Gwarinpa area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on electoral processes and the voting system.

The Chief Executive Officer CEO of the organisation, Glory Nneka Ukwenga a.k.a Queen Nneka Africana, in a brief chat with journalists during the event on Saturday, said: “We have observed that NGOs in Nigeria don’t really look into the issue we have taken upon ourselves today.

“As a body, we have decided to educate and carry local people along on the issue of the forthcoming election and voting, so as to be familiar with the processes.”

Some of the areas in which the residents were enlightened included the identification of party logo; particular finger (index) to use to vote; and recognition of their polling units within their different locations, among others.

Members of the organisation during the rally carried different placards to further convey the information to residents, with different short inscription, saying: “Your vote is your power”; “Election no be holiday”; “Protect your future by voting right”; “Choose your own candidate by voting”; “Step out to vote”; and “Obey INEC workers”.

Also, flyers containing the messages were distributed to passers-by who would probably vote on the election days.

Queen Nneka Africana advised registered voters to go out and vote with the enlightenment they have received, assuring them that “in this coming election, your vote will count”.

“If candidates don’t deserve your vote, don’t vote them. Our vote is our power and the power belongs to us,” she added.

Also speaking to residents during the rally, the Director of Programmes, Mr. Stephen Ode, told them that “voting is the civic exercise of the people. Election time is not a day of holiday. It is not a day to sit at home and be watching movies.

”The time has come for you not to keep complaining. It’s the best opportunity for all of us. This is the time to make sure that politicians that are not performing are voted out. And those who are performing well should be voted into office to continue. It’s a civic call for all of us to stand up and do the needful. The power is in your PVCs. It’s not alone to vote but to also defend it after voting.”

ALDI, which has been in existence since year 2017, further tasked residents to act, vote and add value, saying that it is not enough to complain “but acting actively and politically is the surest means to the path of self actualisation.”

The information passed across to the residents was translated in pidgin and Hausa languages for effective understanding by majority of those addressed in the villages and major market-places visited.

•Queen Nneka Africana addressing traders in Gwarinpa market in company of other members of the organisation