Emerging Threats To Peace in 2023 General Elections, South-South, Nigeria (Episode 1)

RALLY FOR PEACEFUL ELECTION

EPISODE 1 ON THURSDAY 19^TH JANUARY, 2023 (10 - 11AM)

Discussion: Emerging Threats To Peace in 2023 General Elections, South-South, Nigeria 

Introduction: The only way to peace is peace and it is the responsibility of everyone to contribute their quota towards peace. The key actors in the 2023 General Elections were identified as:

 

1.      Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)

2.      The Law Enforcement Agents (LEA)

3.      The Political Parties and their Candidates

4.      The Civil Society Actors

5.      The Citizens/Masses/ Intending Voters

6.      The Journalists  and other Media Agents

 

Some of the striking actions to be carried out were centered on:

a.      Sustained awareness, sensitization and continuous education on relevant issues using all available channels.

b.      Reorientation of the citizens with the right information.

c.      Town Hall Meetings (physical and virtual) where the Actors can regularly interface.

 

Some threats that were identified included but not limited to the followings:

1.      The challenge of Intending Voters not being able to locate their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs). It was noted that despite some intending voters being reluctant and giving excuses for not being able to get their PVCs, there is the need for INEC to intensify their effort in getting the PVCs closer to the people especially when there are feelers that ease of collection of PVCs varies in different part of the country.

 

The Citizens especially the youths whose interests has been rejuvenated in the forthcoming election to make sacrifice to pick their PVCs by leveraging on the calls and provisions made by INEC. They need to get their PVCs and vote as popularity does not automatically translate to results.

 

These would address the threats coming from the impression that INEC is deliberately acting to disenfranchise some people from voting. It is potential red flag for violence.

 

2.      Hate Speech is being peddled more by the Citizen than the Candidates that they are supporting. This can be curbed with proper reorientation considering that some people do not know the implications or the devastating effects that their speech can cause. Some of the careless words are drawn along ethnic and religious lines, The Citizens need to be conscious of what they say or do; body languages can sometimes be misinterpreted.

 

3.      Law Enforcement Agents especially officers of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) collaborating with Politicians to intimidate the Citizens and this need to checked. The role of local security agents need to checked as they have become willing tools in the hands of Politicians. Instead of politicians to spend money to buy arms, they would rather want to engage the services of already armed personnel which would be lot cheaper for them and give them some form of cover, The role of law enforcement and security agents need to be checked to avoid them being willing tools. Most of the Citizens are so confused at the moment in identifying our law enforcement agents based on their dressing and mode of appearance that out rightly negates the prescribed norm; this need to be urgently checked.        

 

4.      Use of information on media to intimidate the people is alarming; the way some information is placed on the media should be checked to remove intimidation of the Citizens. The expertise of journalism should be brought to bear in reporting situation putting the Citizens into consideration. The media should be positively used to reduce misinformation, disinformation and debunking fake news; the experience of seasoned Journalists should be utilized in this regard. The Nigeria Communication Commission and the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission should conduct healthy regulations of all media platforms.     

5.      There is a growing trend of the younger generation having problem with the older generation. The younger generations are of a strong opinion that the older generation have failed and exploited the younger ones.  This mindset of the younger generation need to be properly worked on to avoid a situation of the young versus the Old that may be taken out of context and would result in other crisis.

 

6.       Considering that everyone should be involved in promoting peace, more persons should be involved in:

-         Mobilizing people to get their PVC by rendering much support as they can.

-         Reducing Voters intimidation which is gradually becoming the in-thing compared to vote buying.

-         Improving economic situation with no thanks to the recent hike in fuel price.

These will help to calm the already tensed and ignitable atmosphere.

Conclusion

The Citizens need to be motivated more by constantly being engaged through parleying by various officers among the actors. The intending voters need to be properly educated and informed for better orientation. The media would need to help in curbing the fake news, misinformation, disinformation and help in fact checking the information in circulation. All information should be fact checked before being put out. All hands must be on deck and all Actors must be dedicated in playing their role in promoting peace before, during and after the election.  

 

Participants were drawn from the Six States in the South-South, Politicians, CSO Actors, Security Officers, Election Observers etc

 

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Email: iyoedo@gmail.com

 

THE ONLY WAY TO PEACE IS PEACE