The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has urged voters to turn out in large numbers to cast their votes in Saturday’s Bayelsa, Kogi and Imo governorship elections.

The Director-General of NOA, Lanre Issa-Onilu, said this in a statement on Friday in Lokoja.

He urged the voters to vote for candidates of their choice without fear of intimidation or harassment, emphasising the federal government’s commitment to a ensure free, fair and credible election.

“As voters in Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi elect their governors tomorrow, NOA is urging voters to turn out in large numbers to cast their votes for candidates of their choice without fear of intimidation or harassment.

“The federal government’s commitment to a secure, free, fair and credible election.

“Participating in the election is a civic duty; voters and residents must not succumb to panic or fear,” Mr Issa-Onilu said.

He said that choosing leaders who would govern the states for the next four years was a vital responsibility, and failure to vote for their preferred candidates could be perceived as disinterest in the development of their states.

He assured that the federal government had deployed security operatives to safeguard the electoral proceedings and maintain peace.

The director general commended the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, for orchestrating robust security measures to ensure a successful election day with minimal risk to lives and property.

He also expressed appreciation for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its timely deployment of electoral materials to the states.

“Over the past four months, the Agency has been implementing a voter education programme that has spread from the states’ capitals to local governments and the ward level.

“Our hope is that these enlightenment outreaches have created the much-needed condition for massive participation of voters in the election in the three states.

“We have also interacted with the security agencies, INEC officials and civil society in furtherance of our campaign to achieve minimal voter apathy, curb violence, increased understanding of the new electoral act and peaceful environment for the election,” Mr Issa-Onilu said.

He said that election should be a peaceful process of leadership recruitment which did not require the show of force.

(NAN)