A former executive director of programs for the Nigerian Television Authority, Ms. Eugenia Abu, has said that Nigerians vote more in the popular reality show, Big Brother Naija, than in the country’s elections.
Abu, who said this on Thursday while delivering a convocation lecture at the fifth convocation ceremony of Salem University in Lokoja, called for an increase in voter education in the country.
She said she was puzzled by the disparity between BBNaija’s votes and the votes from the past presidential elections in the country.
Abu added that BBNaija’s last season had around three billion votes, while no presidential election in the last four election cycles held in the country exceeded 96 million registered votes.
Abu said: “I am alarmed by the number of votes for Big Brother Naija, an entertainment program at one point three billion votes against the 96 million votes obtained by the winners of the presidential elections in four different election cycles.” .
Additionally, he admonished media houses and institutions to invest in voter education ahead of the 2023 general election and beyond.
In addition, he urged media organizations to operate beyond personal interest, but rather in the interest of the country.
She said: “The media must be deeply informed in order to provide much-needed illumination to citizens on their rights on governance issues while holding leaders to account.”
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