PAACA seeks media partnership to deepen understanding of Electoral Act
CIVIL society group, Peering Advocacy and Advancement Center in Africa, PAACA, has sought the partnership of the media to deepen the citizens understanding, of the Electoral Act 2022 ahead of the next election.
Speaking during a One-Day Training workshop organised for media practitioners in Akwa Ibom State, the executive director of PAACA, Mr. Ezenwa Nwagwu, expressed concern that majority of Nigerian citizens especially the electorate were ignorant of the provisions of the electoral Act.
Nwagwu stressed that the role the media plays educating and enlightening the society on important issues informed the training workshop organised by PAACA and supported by McArthur Foundation.
“The public should know that election is a law guided process. You cannot participate in election without understanding the legal framework. And the ignorance of the legal framework is the reason why you saw most outcry in 2023 election.
“So the more the citizens are acquainted with the provisions of the the Electoral Act the better for all of us. That is the basis of this training workshop. McArthur foundation is supporting us. Ours is to popularise the Electoral Act 2022” he said.
Nwagwu who described the media as dependable partner, noted that the training became necessary given the lessons learned during 2023 elections as it provides the avenue for PAACA and the Media to brainstorm on the way forward.
“So part of what we learned during the 2023 general election in the country was that the legal framework was completely outsourced to Lawyers. The Electoral Act is not a document for Lawyers, it is a document for the citizens.
“And it is the Media that provides that the strong voice that can change things in the society especially issues around good governance and elections,”