By Solomon T. Gaye
/NIMBA
The National Election Commission (NEC) has launched civil voter education and gender campaign for the pending senatorial by-election in Nimba County .
Speaking to the news desk of The Inquirer Newspaper in the county, the upper Nimba NEC Magistrate, Milton Paye said the launch of the program is line with NEC’s policy to explain the importance attached to civil voter education coupled with gender campaign in the wake of the senatorial by-election in Nimba.
According to Magistrate Paye, the program kick-off with an awareness parade on the main street in Sanniquellie and ebbed at the city hall.
The program was highly attended by local stake holders, civil society organizations, traditional chiefs and elders’ council, commissioners of various districts, including some high officials of NEC from Monrovia.
“NEC’s Upper Nimba office has contracted several community based radio stations to help spread the messages aimed at educating the people in various dialects to tech them how to vote on election day ,” Magistrate Paye stated .
As the by-election gain steam in the county, NEC has reportedly completed the recruitment of temporary field workers and four community based radio stations have been hired to carry out the civil voter education in the various dialects in the county.
Magistrate Paye has further disclosed that eight aspirants are eyeing the Senate position and further emphasized that vetting of aspirants is still ongoing at the headquarter in Monrovia.
“Upper Nimba NEC’s office has written a communication to the central office for campaign schedule, therefore, members of the fourth estate, we are fully prepared,” Magistrate PAYE boasted.
When this paper contacted the traditional elders council chairperson, Robert Sehneah, he described the program as something in the right direction and called on the residents of Nimba to shine their eyes to know whom they are voting for.
“As for me, I’m very happy for the launch which leads to the commencement of civil voter education coupled with the gender campaign. I will make sure that the messages be echoed in all of the towns in my district,” Doe district commissioner Chris Joe pointed out.
As the commencement of official campaign for the senatorial by-election gets into full swing, the race for the capitol has already begun with political parties and independent candidates already wooing electorates to their ideology.
With the qualification of multiple candidates by NEC, it can now be speculated that Nimba has got a senator in waiting. But who could that be, will only be unveiled by the electorates on April 22, 2025.
