Bauchi, NOA Partner to tackle voter apathy

From Paul Orude, Bauchi

The Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Lanre Issa-Onilu, has called on Nigerians to actively participate in the electoral process, warning that voter apathy amounts to surrendering power to others.

Issa-Onilu  spoke during a one-day training workshop on Voter Education and Restoration of Voter Confidence held in Bauchi on Monday, organised for Community Orientation and Mobilisation Officers (COMOs) drawn from the 20 local government areas of the state

Represented by the North-East Zonal Director of NOA, Nuru Kobi, the DG said citizens who refuse to vote should not blame others when incompetent leaders emerge from elections.

According to him, if responsible citizens fail to participate in elections, the country risks being governed by people who do not truly represent the interests of the larger society.

The workshop, organised by NOA in collaboration with the Bauchi State Ministry of Information and Communication, focused on voter registration, voter apathy, and strategies for restoring public confidence in the electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Issa-Onilu explained that voter registration allows citizens’ personal details and biometrics to be captured, thereby making them eligible to participate in elections.

He described the voter’s card as a symbol of citizenship, civic responsibility, and participation in nation-building.

The NOA boss noted that fear, misinformation, and lack of awareness continue to discourage many people from participating in elections.

“Countries that sustain democracy invest heavily in voter registration and voter education. Nigeria must strengthen these areas to deepen democratic participation,” he said.

He added that many Nigerians have lost confidence in elections due to past negative experiences, fake news, and misleading narratives on social media suggesting that election outcomes are already predetermined.

According to him, public confidence can only be restored through sustained engagement, transparency, accountability, and access to accurate information.

“One wrong message can create confusion in an entire community. Fake election results and rumours are often circulated online, discouraging people from participating in the process,” he warned.

Issa-Onilu urged NOA officials to become trusted sources of accurate information by verifying facts and avoiding the spread of rumours and misinformation.

The Bauchi State Government has assured the National Orientation Agency (NOA) of continued collaboration to address voter apathy among residents of the state ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The assurance was given by the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Usman Shehu, during a one-day training workshop on Voter Education and Restoration of Voter Confidence held in Bauchi on Monday.

The commissioner said the state government is concerned about the level of voter apathy and is closely monitoring the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise across the state.

He lamented that Bauchi State is still lagging in the ongoing voter registration exercise and called on stakeholders and eligible citizens to come out and register in preparation for the forthcoming elections.

According to him, the voter registration exercise is being conducted in phases, adding that the government would intensify efforts to mobilise residents, particularly youths who have attained the age of 18, to actively participate in the democratic process.

Shehu noted that the workshop, organised for Community Orientation and Mobilisation Officers (COMOs) drawn from the 20 local government areas of the state, was aimed at reminding participants of their responsibilities as grassroots mobilisers.

He urged the officers to learn new strategies, share experiences, and develop effective approaches for mobilising people to take advantage of the ongoing voter registration exercise.

In his welcome address, the Bauchi State Director of NOA, Mohammed Nasiru Mahe, described the workshop as timely and crucial to the future of Nigeria’s democracy.

“It is indeed a great pleasure to welcome you to this important one-day workshop focused on a theme that is both timely and critical to the future of our democracy — restoring public trust in the electoral process, reducing voter apathy, and ensuring a secure and transparent 2027 general election,” he said.

Mahe added that many Nigerians have become frustrated and skeptical about the electoral process, stressing the need to restore public confidence through concrete actions.

“We are here to answer those questions with concrete actions, not just words. Our absolute priority is to restore public trust, eliminate voter apathy, and guarantee elections that are secure, transparent, and undeniably fair,” he stated.

He explained that the workshop was designed to bridge the gap between the responsibilities of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and public expectations, while equipp NOA’s community mobilisation officers with the knowledge and tools needed to effectively enlighten and mobilise citizens on electoral matters