OVERSEAS
ABSENTEE VOTING in Nigeria
Philippine
Embassy
No. 2
Kainji Street, Corner Lake Chad Crescent
Maitama
District, Abuja, Nigeria
The
month-long OAV exercise started last month April 13, 2013. As the Philippine
embassy opened its door for the voters at 8:00 in the morning, OFW Grace
Abrazado cast the first vote followed by Edelito Sumiwan and Haznor Mangondaya.
 |
| ...the first 3 voters: Haznor Mangondaya, Grace Abrazado and Edelito Sumiwan |
OAV Focal Person Nadjefah A. Mangondaya, Attache Trade and
Economic/ Information Officer of the embassy in Abuja Nigeria, exerted efforts
to reach the voters. She invited voters to come even on Saturdays, Sundays and
public holidays.
 |
| OAV Focal Person, Mrs. Nadjefah A. Mangondaya |
Some hitches encountered:
· - Some previously registered voters’ names did not appear
in the master list sent by
COMELEC (may have failed twice to vote in the national
elections)
· -Some registered voters’ ballots did not arrive
· - Some ballots arrived for absent seamen
To make use of the ballots for absent seamen, Mrs. Mangondaya
requested for guidelines from the COMELEC Chairman for Committee on Overseas
Voting Lucenito Tagle which issued COV Guideline No. 2013-06. It resulted with Circular
MIS 133-2013 resolving the above issues:
OAVoters can use the ballots (and vote personally) intended
for absent seafarers as long as there is a valid ID or passport for verification
in the COMELEC’s certified list of voters.
Notwithstanding Mrs. Mangondaya’s aggressive and tireless campaign
to exercise the right to vote, the mission registered from Nigeria and other
countries of jurisdiction 1,321 voters and 903 who failed to vote twice, only
184 were actually able to cast their votes breakdown of which is as follows:
·
44 from Ghana
·
1 from Ivory
coast
·
139 from Nigeria
Reason: most of the registered OFW voters are no longer in
Nigeria and other countries of jurisdiction.
The 2013 National Elections ended on May 13, 2013 at 12:00
noon (Nigeria time).
Nigeria OAV result:
The first three (3) leading senatorial candidates are:
Escudero, Legarda and Cayetano, A.
The first three (3) leading Party List:
-
OFW Family Club
-
Alyansa ng OFW Party
-
Migrante
Mrs. Mangondaya had been praised by voters for her very
satisfactory and accommodating countenance during the whole exercise.
 |
| Pusong Pinoy Association President John Hernandez dropping his ballot at the designated ballot box. Behind waiting for his turn is Nonito Barraquias |
