2023: INEC To Meet Political Parties Over Campaign Violence Next Week

Violence and attacks have followed the Peoples Democratic Party campaign train just two weeks after leaders of various political parties signed the peace agreement to guarantee peace before, during, and after the 2023 national elections

In light of this, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has scheduled a meeting with the heads of the main political parties for the next week in order to discuss how to prevent future campaigns from turning violent and riotous.

The Commission expressed concern about the recent conflicts between party followers in various states and cautioned lawmakers against adding to the already high level of unrest in the nation.

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According to information obtained by Anaedoonline.ng, INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu urged the various parties to concentrate on the issues at hand rather than engage in personal attacks while speaking in Abuja today at the master trainers’ training on election technology for the general elections of 2023.

Yakubu said “even as the Commission is working hard to ensure a credible process in the forthcoming elections, reports of clashes among parties and their supporters in some States of the country during the ongoing electioneering campaign is worrisome. So too is the reported denial of access to public facilities for parties and candidates in some States of the Federation.

“Let me caution parties and their supporters to focus on issues and steer clear of attacks on each other. These are not only violations of the Electoral Act 2022 but also negate the voluntary commitment by all political parties and candidates to the letter and spirit of the Peace Accord signed about three weeks ago under the auspices of the National Peace Committee (NPC).

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“Parties, candidates and their supporters should not by acts of commission or omission further complicate the prevailing security situation in the country. A peaceful electioneering campaign is critical to the conduct of peaceful and credible elections.

“The Commission will continue to monitor the situation closely and will convene a meeting with leaders of political parties next week to discuss, among other issues, the imperative of peaceful campaigns and equal access to public facilities.

“In the same vein, the Commission will also meet with the security agencies under the auspices of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) next week.”

 

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