By Emmanuel Edukugho
Against the backdrop that most of the elections conducted since return to democratic rule in 1999 had been flawed by different kinds of irregularities and malpractices, Democracy Vanguard (DV), a non-governmental, non-partisan organisation founded to promote democratic culture, values and defence of the sanctity of elections, has began a campaign for “One man – One Woman – One Vote.”

On Monday, 10th March, 2014, at Excellence Hotel, Ogba, Ikeja, it launched the campaign and also a public presentation of Voters’ Handbook attended by about 3,000 people including civil society and human rights organisations, representatives of political parties, the mass media, labour, INEC representative, traditional rulers, market men and women, students and academics.

In a welcome speech by Mr. Adeola Soetan, National Co-ordinator, Democracy Vanguard, titled – “Nigerian Electorate Must Assert Their Voting Power To Make Positive Change and Progress In The Country”, he said that ordinarily, election [period should be a festival of democracy, a celebration of democratic values and voters’ fundamental right to choose their leaders in an atmosphere of fairness, issues based campaigns where the choice of the electorate is supreme.

“But our recent awful past experiences with elections and electoral processes have shown that in Nigeria, election period is a war situation, where desperate politicians deploy all arsenal for electoral battle to come to power at all cost and by all means necessary.” He added that the “Do-or-Die” attitude of desperate politicians have really subdued the integrity of the electoral process and undermined the fundamental rights of Nigerian voters to elect their representatives freely and fairly.

According to Soetan, this conscious effort of polluting politics, polity and electoral space with the odious and criminal activities of many Nigerian politicians has succeeded in depressing voters and chasing away credible people from the political space.

The INEC representative praised the one-man-one woman-one vote campaigns and assured that the electoral body is committed to free and fair elections, promising of a beautiful outcome in 2015. it has a strategic plan 2012 – 2016, like a roadmap to give Nigerians a credible election in 2015 and beyond.

There is going to be a credible voters register, cleaned up and perfect, will capture those who attained 18 years and above, those not registered before and permanent voters cards will be issued for the 2015 general elections.