A Nigerian Catholic Priest and writer, Father Kelvin Ugwu serving in Malawi writes to the Independence National Electoral Commission (INEC) to appeal for the inclusion of pictures of candidates in ballot papers.
Fr Kelvin expressed his concern for the forthcoming 2023 presidential election stating that in other African countries, faces of candidates are printed on the ballot paper along side with party logos, hence his appeal to INEC to make Nigeria’s ballot papers like that.
Fr Kelvin also brought out samples of how he thinks it should look like, comparing our ballot paper with that of Ghana, Malawi, South Africa and others.
He further state that truly the citizens are voting for candidates and not party logos, stating that a party can not be held accountable for bad governance and if implemented, it will help the voters identify their candidate.
He wrote:
“Dear INEC Nigeria
“I think something like this can be achieved in 2023 presidential election.
“The ballot paper can still carry the face and name of each candidate, the party logo, and the space for thumbprint.
“I think it will be to your interest and the interest of Nigerians that every means that will help make it easier for voters of all class to easily identify whom they are voting for is employed.
“I trust that 2023 election will be free and fair.
“I trust that you will look into my request with kind consideration. Thank you and may God bless you with wisdom as you carry out this great task of making it easier for the masses to elect their preferred candidate in 2023. Amen.
“???? The picture attached is just a sample or a guide to make you understand my point better”
“Dear INEC Nigeria,
Our ballot paper should be like this because in the true sense of it, it is actually the individual with his vice that we are voting for”
“All the elections conducted in Nigeria in the past, the ballot paper just carried only party logos. But it is not the party we vote that leads us after the elections but the individual”
“Almost all the countries in Africa has both the face, the name of the candidate, his/her running mate, and the party logo on their ballot papers”
“Please do this for Nigerians”
This indeed is a good initiative that will help Nigeria in the forthcoming 2023 Presidential election.
Good,the best option,we vote for individuals not party