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IMMEDIATE RELEASE : Emerging Threats to Peace in 2023 General Elections, South-South, Nigeria

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 We have come to terms to understand that the only way to peace is peace and it is the responsibility of everyone to contribute their quota towards this peace. We have recognized the key actors in the 2023 General Elections to include but no,   t limited to Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Law Enforcement Agents (LEA), the Political Parties and their Candidates, the Civil Society Actors, the Citizens/Masses/ Intending Voters, the Journalists and other Media Agents, The Private Business Sector and the Religious/Traditional institutions.

On a one hour weekly basis, Stakeholders have been meeting and interacting on the Rally for Peaceful Election platform. The focus was on Emerging Threats to Peace in 2023 General Elections, South-South, Nigeria. We have had six (6) episodes with discussants drawn from the following States so far Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta and Edo while the next week episode will focus on Rivers State. Our focus remains peace before, during and after the elections.

 

In the course of our discussions, some threats were identified that we expected the various actors to act on and give the intending voter’s confidence that there would be peace; to mention a few:

1.      Voter’s education appeared inadequate especially with the introduction of BVAS and special concerns for voters in rural areas, riverine and hard to reach area as well as persons with disabilities.

2.      Intimidation of various manners ranging from tearing of posters, physical assaults, use of law enforcement agents, thugs and power of incumbency especially cases where sitting Governors would not allow other parties to campaign freely.

3.      Fake news, misinformation and distortion of information.

4.      Inter-party and Intra-party cases that resulted in lingering court cases.

5.      Cash crunch that the implementation of the cashless policy has brought and its implication on vote buying process.

6.      Inability of registered voters to get their Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) and to locate their polling units; there were also reported cases of confiscation of PVC especially in Bayelsa State.

7.      The new wave where a new political party is taking the stage and the two major political parties wanting to retain their dominance; this is compounded by the slogan “collect their money and vote your conscience” which may result in postelection crisis.

8.      The insecurities in various parts especially case of kidnaping, arson, unwarranted attacks etc.    

 

In view of the above the various Actor are hereby called upon be law abiding and desist from any action that would create crisis in the 2023 general election. All Actors are expected to abide by the guideline in the Electoral Act, 2022. INEC may be seen as the Umpire; however, the role of every other Actor would complement this effort in place.

 

However, there are some quick fixes that all Actors especially the Journalists need to play a part in immediately:

a.      The Citizens should be sensitized immediately on the need to verify their polling units at least a day before election the especially those who were moved to new polling units. Election day is not the a good day to locate polling units considering restriction of movements.

b.      The Citizens should be careful with their conduct on election day especially those voting in polling units where key political figures are casting their votes as any skewed action can be misinterpreted; recall that nothing can be more disturbing to a politician than telling him or her that he/she lost her polling unit hence the desperation to win the polling unit by all means.

c.      The Citizens should again be reminded that vote buying and selling is an offence hence they totally desist from it; the idea of collect their money and vote your conscience could be a major ignition of postelection election violence.

d.      Those who could not collect their PVC for whatever reason should accept it in good fate and not view as a deliberate attempt by INEC to disenfranchise them; those without PVC or not on any election duty should do well to remain in their homes an stay off polling units.

e.      Candidates and their Agents are called upon to do away with the “win-win syndrome” and should get into wanting to win by all means there creating room for crisis.

f.       All Actors should do within their ability to ensure that the various areas that pertains to them Election Guideline and Electoral Act are strictly adhered to.        

 

For the Conveners of Rally for Peaceful Election:

 

 

Dr. Bright Oniovokukor   Dr. Jude Obasanmi Phd                 Comr. Ufuoma Akpobi

Convener                              Co-Convener                                               Co-Convener

08052735427                                   08037184035                                               08026233860

 

Email: rallyforpeacefulelection@gmail.com

 

THE ONLY WAY TO PEACE IS PEACE

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