The official Unveiling of a Revolutionary Smart Card for Grassroots Vote Mobilization took place on Thursday, 25th July, 2024.
The event aimed at introducing the first high-tech smart card for grassroots vote mobilization.
The Consolidated Alliance for Grassroots Mobilization CAGraM; an independent political group with a focus on socio-economic and political emancipation of rural dwellers across the Country is poised to reinvent grassroots voter mobilization through the use of technology.
In a historic move, the organization is revolutionizing grassroots mobilization in Nigeria through introduction of the first-ever Membership Smart Card. This innovation is unprecedented indeed and holds a great future for Nigeria’s advancement in her electoral process.
At the heart of the membership Smart Card, lies a sophisticated technological ecosystem designed to safeguard the integrity of the membership database.
According to the Executive Secretary of CAGram, Engr. Emmanuel Nwosu Butches, each card is embedded with a microchip containing the voter’s INEC details, creating a unique and tamper-proof identifier which makes it easy to trace back the voting pattern of every member of the organization; thereby locking every member’s vote to any Presidential Candidate adopted by the organization for Presidential elections and any other Candidate adopted for other elections.
This is phenomenal and unprecedented; which is the reason all political actors in Nigeria are very interested in what the ALLIANCE is doing.
By this innovation, CONSOLIDATED ALLIANCE FOR GRASSROOTS MOBILIZATION CAGraM will be the first political group in Nigeria to organize a mock electronic voting for its members so as to ascertain the exact number of votes the Organization can mobilize for the Candidates of their choice ahead of any election.
This is ingenious and a groundbreaking innovation that will redefine grassroots vote mobilization for elections in Nigeria.
During the event, Alhaji Yusuf Dantalle, Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), commended the initiative as a significant step reflecting the dedication of Nigerians to enhancing and solidifying democracy. He emphasized that the initiative aligns with IPAC’s vision and mission and expressed IPAC’s willingness to collaborate with any group committed to sustainable democracy. Alhaji Dantalle acknowledged the challenges faced in past elections, which have often been flawed in efforts to ensure free, fair, and credible elections since Nigeria’s independence in 1960. He pointed out a concerning decline in voter turnout, particularly in presidential elections from 2007 to 2023, highlighting the urgent need to restore confidence in the voting process. He welcomed the high-tech innovation as a means to strengthen and deepen Nigeria’s hard-earned democracy. Alhaji Dantalle assured that the security of voters’ personal data would be guaranteed, with voting patterns linked to permanent voter cards as stipulated by electoral laws ensuring confidentiality. He affirmed his commitment to partnering with the group, noting that this collaboration would enhance voter confidence.
Mr. Edmund Onwuriri, Director of Planning, Research, and Statistics at the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), speaking on behalf of the Director General, Mr. Silas Agara, highlighted the critical role of numbers and accurate data, especially in addressing unemployment as key focus of the NDE. He noted that leveraging technology at this point indicates that CAGraM and NDE share similar objectives, which contribute to deepening democracy. He emphasized that with this innovation, the electorate can now be assured of the security of their votes. He expressed hope that those behind the initiative will continue to move in the right direction and assured them of a potential partnership in the future.
Mr. Nwosu Chima, representing the Director General of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), highlighted the importance of data accuracy in managing the database of Nigerians. He informed the gathering that the current database includes approximately 159 million Nigerians. Mr. Chima commended the organizers for their efforts and expressed NIMC’s interest in partnering with them.
Speaking on the sidelines with 9news Nigeria after the event, Hon. Princess Dr. Folasade Olabanji-Oba, Deputy Executive Secretary, described the occasion as historic. She noted that while it complements the government’s efforts, it stands out from typical support groups. She emphasized the critical role of information and data, stressing that it is essential for ensuring that the benefits of democracy reach everyone. By working together, she said, they can elevate standards and bring about positive change, highlighting that the success of any government depends on its ability to serve its people effectively.
This innovative card is not just a membership ID, but a symbol of empowerment. With CAGraM Smart Card, the voice of the grassroots will now be heard loud and clear, and their votes will count at all elections.
The event was a landmark occasion, drawing the attendance of all National Chairmen of registered political parties and prominent political figures from various affiliations.
Engr. Butches, Executive Secretary of CAGraM, further emphasized that the groundbreaking nature of this innovation as a matter of facts, promises to redefine grassroots vote mobilization in Nigeria’s electoral process.
