Benin City – As part of measures to ensure a hitch-free 2019 general elections, the Federal Government yesterday said it will continue with the education of electorates on the various symbols of the registered 91 political parties, especially on how best to thumbprint to minimize the problem of voided votes.

The Edo state director, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mrs Grace Eseka made this known in Benin city during the Agency’s One-day public enlightenment campaign on voter education towards next year’s general election.

The event according to Mrs Eseka is one in a series of programs lined up for the engagement of stakeholders across the three senatorial districts of the State.

The Edo NOA Boss who described the number of voided votes in past elections as “worrisome”, called on politicians to refrain from hate speeches, fake news and vile campaign, which she said was capable of inciting violence in election.

“The quest for a free and credible election is highly essential for a viable and stable polity. We must endeavor to conduct ourselves peacefully before, during and after the elections”, Eseka further added.

In the same vein, Edo state Governor, Godwin Obaseki urged stakeholders to play by “the entrenched” rules of election in line with international standard.

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Governor Obaseki, represented by his special Adviser on Special Duties, Gowon Yakubu tasked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to “raise the bar” by conducting a generally acceptable polls come 2019.

On his part, Commissioner of police, Johnson Kokumo admonished youths to eschew vices and avoid being use to disrupt the process, asserting the police is “battle ready” for a free, fair, and credible 2019 election.

However, a participant, Mr Albert Moses charged NOA to take the voters education to every nook and cranny of the state, especially the rural areas where he noted have majority of the country’s electorates.

Meanwhile, the nation’s electoral umpire, INEC were absent at the public enlightenment program graced by participants drawn from traditional institutions, religious organisation, security agencies, youth groups, judiciary, NGOs, and others.

High point of the event was a lecture on how to vote (thumbprint) with display of symbols of the various political parties by the Edo NOA Boss.