May 13, 2022

The FESTAC Deanery of the Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC), Catholic Church, says it has mobilised its officials ahead of the 2023 General Elections.

The commission, with its record in election monitoring and observation in Nigeria, made this known at its fatigue and regimentary session in FESTAC.

The JDPC, a civil rights and social arm of the Church, asides participation in elections to forestall breakdown of law and order as it strives to correct all unjust structures in the society.

The organisation, through donations from members and other individuals, carry out charity to aid indigent members of the society, irrespective of faith, or denomination.

Over the years, the commission has been working with the Independent National Electoral commission (INEC) in elections monitoring nationwide, to ensure seamless voting processes in the area of maintenance of order, security and crowd control.

Its Co-ordinator, Mr Onyema Onyenakeya, said after the session, meant to rekindle officials’ physical alertness and zeal towards the forthcoming elections, that not less than 500 persons have been mobilised ahead of the exercise.

Onyenakeya said the members, drawn from parishes that make up the deanery, would undergo routine training before the elections, to enable them man voting booths in the various polling areas.

According to him, the members will train in latent election crisis neutralisation, civil resolution of dispute, crowd control and security.

“As stakeholders in the polity, it will be a disservice for us to stand aloof and allow such national programme that its outcome affects the lives of the people, to derail.

“Our men have proven to be competent overtime, therefore we are ready to contribute our quota to ensure an egalitarian system,” he said.

Also speaking at the event, the Resource Person for the session, Mr Jude Zinmako, said the organisation would embark on voter education drive, to complement others whose duty was to enlighten people on the election process.

He commended the Federal Government for carrying out electoral reforms, saying such systems as immediate electronic result transmission would make the process easier.(NAN)