KADUNA, North-West, Nigeria – Eligible voters in the country have been cautioned against the sell of their Voter Cards to politicians under whatever guise as Nigeria advances toward the 2023 general elections.
This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a monthly meeting with Media on Peace Journalism in Kaduna on Saturday, August 27, 2022.
Participants at the meeting frowned at the practice of vote buying by politicians in the country, and called on relevant agencies to reinforce their constitutional power to arrest any culprit who engaged in this act to serve as a deterrent to others
The forum then tasked the National Electoral Commission, (INEC) to ensure it conduct a free, fair and credible elections acceptable by all, even as they urged the electoral Umpire to ensure the transmission of election results electronically in accordance with the 2022 amended Electoral Act in 2023.
The monthly forum, organized by the Interfaith Mediation Centre, (IMC) under its Community Initiative to Promote Peace (CIPP) project is aimed at creating awareness among Nigerians on their civic responsibilities to ensure a peaceful and prosperous nation.
A cross section of participants at the monthly forum
Participants at the meeting agreed to serve as agents of peace, unity and above all sensitize and mobilize the electorate for a common goal of national integration, growth and development.
Participants noted a reduction on banditry, kidnappings and terrorism in the State, of which they attributed the success to the ongoing continuous efforts by relevant security structures in the state including the Nigeria Army, CMMRC, CPOs, CPAN, Media and other response team. They urge the security agencies to sustain the tempo.
Participants also acknowledged the important roles of the media as Watchdog of the society and Fourth Estate of the Realm saddled with responsibilities of checkmating the excesses of other arms of Government, enlightening citizens, informing the general public and educating the populace on their rights and duties in a representative democracy.
“Media practitioners in the country should sensitize and educate Nigerians not to see the 2023 general elections as a do or die affairs.
“Media owners in Kaduna State and the country should support and equip their Reporters with modern equipments to enable them discharge their duty effectively during the coverage of the general elections.
“Citizens of the State should shun ethno-religious inclination that polarize and instigate hatred and disunity among citizens.
“Religious leaders should not use their sermons and congregation to preach disunity during, before and after the elections, in order not to cause division among fellow citizens in the State and Nigeria as a whole.
“Critical stakeholders in the State and nation should continue to sensitize citizens, particularly the youth against involvement in political thuggery before, during and after the general elections,” the communiqué urged.
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