By Angela Atabo

Africa Youth Growth Foundation (AYGF),has tasked Nigerian politicians to uphold the sanctity and integrity of the electoral process toward a credible 2023 general election.

Dr Arome Salifu, the Executive Director AYGF said this at a news conference on Tuesday in Abuja.

“The foundation believes that credible elections are a fundamental requirement for strong democratic governance and respect for human rights which are critical for sustainable development and lasting peace,” Salifu said.

He called on security agencies saddled with the responsibility of securing the country to intensify effort and do more to make the entire electoral process safe for voters, candidates, observers , media, and electoral officers.

He however, said that a peaceful, and credible election was not entirely the task of security agencies alone.

” INEC, political actors, and other stakeholders have a part to play; INEC must be seen as an umpire indeed and must ensure neutrality, credibility, and acceptability of the electoral process and it outcome.

“For the politicians, they ultimately desire to win the elections, they must do so within the annbiance of the law.

“The promotion political violence and the spread of disinformation and misinformation, including vote buying, hate speeches, and unguarded statements are capable of undermining the democratic process, public peace, and harmony.

“In few days to the end of the campaign ,politicians and their followers must promote their messages with a very high degree of responsibility toward ensuring that the sanctity and integrity of the electoral process is guaranteed,” Salifu said.

He urged them to eschew violence and avoid all forms of incitement incitement as tools for mobilsing and canvassing for votes.

Salifu said that Nigeria was faced with a pandemic of security threats across the six geopolitical zones, saying that credible, peaceful, and conclusive election would help to resolve the myriad of problems faced by the large population of youths and other citizens.

“Evidence has shown that a failed election could be detrimental to Nigeria and the West African countries.

“It is on this premise, we are hosting this press conference to draw the attention of critical stakeholders to the need to conduct a credible, peaceful, and conclusive general election.

“The global communities’ attention is on Nigeria as 93.4 million registered voters are expected to vote on Feb. 25 and March 11,” he said.

Salifu said that the 2023 general election was an opportunity for citizens to choose a leader with solid determination to steer the direction of the country.

He commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its efforts toward deepen democratic governance through transparent elections via its reforms.

He said the introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the result viewing portal have implications for promoting transparency and trust in the electoral process.

Salifu called on youths and the citizens in general to remain ready, peaceful and desist from vote selling,urging them to be resolute to participate in the polls and vote for the growth and development of Nigeria.

“It is also imperative to call on the security agencies saddled with the responsibility of securing the country to intensify effort and do more to make the entire electoral process safe for voters, candidates, observers , media, and electoral officers,” he said.(NAN)(nannews.ng)

Edited by Ali Baba-Inuwa

By Stephen Adeleye

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Kogi, on Tuesday said a total of 1.6 million Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) have been issued to their owners in the state.

Briefing journalists on the commission’s preparations ahead of Saturday’s general elections, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Kogi, Dr Hale Gabriel Longpet, said that the 1.6 million eligible voters were out of the 1.9 million residents who registered to vote in the election.

Lonpet said that the 1.6 million voters represent 84 per cent of the registered population in the state.

The REC commended the electorate in Kogi for their enthusiasm in coming out to collect their PVCs, and urged them to come out en mass to cast their votes on the elections dates.

“As part of our preparedness for the elections, we have so far collected 3,508 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), which have been configured to be used in all the 3,508 Polling Units across the state.

“We have also received additional 282 backups BVAS to be used in case of any eventuality during the elections.

“It will interest you to know that we used some of the BVAS to conduct the recent Mock Accreditation exercise in the state to test the integrity of the BVAS, and they gave us excellent results.

“Except for a few cases were issues of the machine not recognising finger prints of some farmers was experienced , but by simply using Methylated Spirit solved it.

“One good thing about the BVAS is that it will help improve the transparency of election results and increase public confidence in electoral outcomes in the 2023 elections, ” he assured.

The REC further disclosed that deployment of election materials to the 21 LGAs of the state has been done and that more materials arrived CBN yesterday for collection by the commission.

He said that Ad hoc staff, Presiding and Assistant Presiding Officers, have been recruited and trained with practical demonstrations in their ability to use the BVAS for a successful and credible conduct of the elections.

He added that the training of technicians that would handle any challenge that might arise with the BVAS had also been concluded.

On security, Longpet said that the commission had held meetings with Heads of security agencies in the state, who had assured the commission of peaceful and violence-free elections.

While reiterating the commission’s preparedness and readiness to conduct free, fair and credible elections in the state, Longpet called on political parties, politicians and their supporters to ensure they abide by the rules and regulations guiding election conduct. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Bayo Sekoni/Benson Iziama

By Salisu Sani-Idris

Savannah Centre for Diplomacy and Democracy (SCDDD) has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure timely deployment of materials and personnel for the forthcoming 2023 elections.

Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, the Chairperson, Savannah Centre’s Council of the Wise and former President Court of Appeal, made the call at news conference on Tuesday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Bulkachuwa was represented by Amb. Brownson Dede, the Board of Directors Chair of the centre and member of the Council of the Wise.

She said that the integrity of the elections largely depended on its management by INEC who should be guided by the remarkable success so far achieved from 2015 to date.

According to her, as a neutral and independent institution, INEC must be fair and just too all political parties, candidates and electorate.

She said that the use of electronic gadgets and other modern devices by INEC was a welcome development and must be properly managed in order to enhance the integrity of the elections and to fully reflect the choices of the people.

Bulkachuwa appreciated the Federal Government for providing the INEC with all the resources it requires for the conduct of the 2023 elections as declared by the INEC chairman few days ago.

“Mr President is kindly requested to complement his evident determination for a successful election by also providing all the Security Agencies with the resources and leadership to enable them prevent any violence before, during and after the elections.

” While the council welcomes the promise made by President Muhammadu Buhari in his recent broadcast, it is important to emphasize that special attention is given to the open threats made by certain groups who are determined to formulate trouble in order to prevent the elections from taking place in some states.

“These threats should not be taken lightly or underestimated. The Council once again calls on all the Political parties to abide by their constitutions, the electoral laws and guidelines issued by INEC in order to prevent violence or any act that would adversely affect the integrity of the elections.”

She stressed the need for all political parties to discharge their responsibilities to their members and the nation, without recourse to violence.

Bulkachuwa also enjoined the leadership of political parties to take steps to compel their members and officials to fully comply with the electoral laws and guidelines issued by INEC in order to develop a culture of integrity and trust.

“To the Presidential, Governorship, National and State Assemblies Candidates, the Council’s sincere advice is that they should desist from rancour, hate speech, inflammatory and unguided utterances capable of instigating violence.

“It is imperative that they demonstrate leadership and courage by accepting the results of the election and anyone who is not satisfied with the outcome should take up the matter as provided by the constitution, not through violence.”

She appealed to the religious leaders to ensure that their adherents promote religious tolerance and mutual respect so that the devil would have no means of creating any misunderstanding or hatred between adherents of the religions.

“The Council wishes to express its appreciation to the religious leaders for the prayers they have been offering for peace, unity and progress to prevail in the country and to also urge them to intensify their prayers.

“The Council also recognizes the crucial roles that the traditional rulers have been playing in preventing instigators of conflicts from arising in their respective domains.

“They are kindly requested to continue providing the right leadership to their people and encourage them to turn out and cast their votes peacefully. They should educate their subjects to avoid hate speeches or insults in expressing their response to the outcome of the elections.

“The unpleasant experience that followed the 2011 general elections which recorded the highest casualty when hundreds of Nigerians were killed in that mayhem, especially in the Northern States is still fresh in our minds. ”

She, therefore, called on the electorate in their best interest to ensure that they cast their votes in peace so that they elect the leaders they need.

” The Council wishes to appeal to the electorate to turnout and cast their votes peacefully in order to strengthen democracy in Nigeria.

“The youths, as the future leaders of the nation should be wiser by refusing to allow themselves to be used against the people. No youth should allow himself or herself to be used as an agent of violence to prevent the peaceful conduct of the elections in any way.”

Bulkachuwa said that the council appreciates both the print and the electronic media in the roles they have been playing so far.

“‘However, they must continue to be impartial umpires in reporting events before, during and after the 2023 general elections without fear or favour.

“You are critical to the success of the election. We, therefore, urge you to intensify the campaign for a non-violent election so that the results are acceptable to all.

“The Council is fully convinced that the ability of Nigerians to once more prove the prophets of doom wrong, largely depends on the conduct of the Political Parties, the Candidates, INEC, the Security Agencies and the Electorates during the forthcoming 2023 elections.

“They owe it a duty to the Nigerian people to improve upon and consolidate the democratic successes so far achieved in Nigeria.” (NAN)

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

By Bridget Ikyado

Rev. Yakubu Pam, Executive Secretary, Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), has urged political parties to accept results of the 2023 general elections and refrain from actions that could trigger violence.

He made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja ahead of the general elections commencing Saturday, Feb. 25.

Pam urged candidates or political parties disatisfied with election outcome to pursue their case in courts instead of taking the law into their hands.

“We must remember that the world’s eyes will be on Nigerians; what happens here will send a very strong signal to the world about our readiness to grow as a nation.

“I am advising Nigerians to know that the hour has come for us to behave in a matured manner.

“Let us remember that leaders that will lead us are not regional leaders, ethnic leaders or religious leaders; we need a leader with a heart that will lead us regardless of our background, whether you are from the south or north.

“A leader that will look at you as a Nigerian first, and a leader that will hear the cry of the needy and the poor, leaders that will look at our major challenges in terms of insecurity and in terms of economy.

“The greatest of them all, is a leader that will work to unite us, finding common grounds that make us one in whatever we are doing as a country,” he said.

The executive secretary further said that Nigerians should bear in mind that the will of God would prevail.

“Whatever we are doing now, the will of God is bigger than everyone, at the end, whoever emerges, we should rally round the person to make sure we have a new Nigeria.

“As we move toward installing a new administration, we must make sure that we have our country standing and to work together with the person,” he added(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Abdulfatai Beki