A Non-Governmental Organization, Justice Development and Peace Makers Centre (JDPMC) in Osun state has begun training for stakeholders on campaign finance tracking of candidates ahead of the November governorship election in Ondo state.
The seminar held in collaboration with European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria EU- SDGN) Programme aimed at tracking campaign finance expenditure of political candidates ahead of the 2024 Governorship election.
Addressing Participants in Akure, Richard Akinyosotu, Project Officer, JDPMC expressed the optimism that the training would go a long way in exposing them to the concept of monitoring campaign finance towards ensuring transparency and accountability ahead of the election.
Akinsoyotu said, “First thing, I want to believe we are all here because we strongly believe the fate of our dear state for the next four years will soon be decided and whatever comes out of the decisions that will be made in November will shape in what becomes of our dear state at least for the next four years.
“Secondly, the reason to open our consciousness to things that we see almost every election cycle but we do not pay attention to them and in the long run they have their effects on us.
“Thirdly, we have gathered to learn what we already know, to learn what we do not know and to see how our little efforts can drive a great change for our personal lives and for our state at large.
“And so once again, I welcome you all to this training and I hope that at the end of these two days our expectations would have been met and whatever we must have learned from here will make us a better person who can influence others to do what is right even when no one is watching.
“Elections are not a small business, you and I know that for sure. We have seen what elections could do even to the most mature democracy in the world. You and I knew what happened in the United States four years ago for those of us who followed the news.
“And so if a state like the U.S. could plunge into such, then we who are toddlers as far as democracy is concerned, we have a lot of work to do.
“As we proceed, so many things will be revealed in this training and once again I promise it’s not going to be a waste of time.”
Participants in attendance were drawn from the 18 local government councils of Ondo state and some media professionals.
