Bisina Somto, PBA Journalism Mentee
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has charged political parties and their candidates to shun violent conduct in their campaigns.
The commission stressed the need for candidates, party members, and supporters to maintain peace and decorum in their electioneering activities.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made the call in his message titled “100 Days to the 2023 General Election“ issued on Wednesday, November 16, 2022, in Abuja.
Yakubu maintained that the commission would not bow to pressures to drop the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), emphasizing that the deployment of modern technology would promote free, fair, credible and verifiable elections.
“As Nigerians are aware, an election is a multi-stakeholder activity. We will continue to play our part diligently and conscientiously.
“We appeal to all stakeholders and, above all, citizens to play their own part so that working together, we can have the elections that Nigerians yearn for, and which the world expects from us.
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”It is exactly 100 days today before polling units open at 8.30 am on Feb. 25 for national elections (Presidential and National Assembly) and two weeks later on March 11, for State elections (Governorship and State Houses of Assembly).”
He called on citizens to participate fully in all electoral activities, particularly the ongoing display of the Register of Voters for claims and objections as well as collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
He said Nigerians want free, fair, and credible elections supported by technology, which guarantees transparent accreditation and upload of polling unit results for citizens to view in real-time on Election Day.
Yakubu assured Nigerians that the commission would continue its regular engagement with political parties, civil society organisations, the media and other critical stakeholders.
He said that above all, Nigerians deserve the right to know about the progress INEC was making and the challenges (if any) it confronts in the preparations for the 2023 General Elections.
“Accordingly, in a couple of weeks, the commission will start bi-weekly media briefings followed by weekly briefings as we get closer to the election. In the week leading to the election, there will be daily briefings,” Yakubu stated.
