Somto Bisina
As campaigns have began ahead of the 2023 general elections, The Electoral Hub, a civil society organisation, has called for inclusive, peaceful and policy based discourse, by political office seekers to enlighten Nigerians on their plans for the country.
The 2023 general election is scheduled to hold between February 25 and March 11, 2023. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officially lifted the campaign restrictions on 28 September 2022.
The Electoral hub said the guidelines for the elections should be top consideration by political parties and candidates as they conduct their campaigns noting that the regulation has the binding effect of law and must be followed.
Ms Princess Hamman-Obels, Director, Initiative for Research, Innovation and Advocacy in Development (IRIAD) of The Electoral Hub said this in a statement on Monday in Abuja.
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Hamman-Obels said, “an inclusive campaign is the hallmark of democracy”. The inclusion of Women, Youths, and Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) in campaign consideration will not only help strengthen the democracy but also ensure that political parties tap into these electoral bases.
“Political parties need to develop a framework for the inclusion and engagement of all groups in our society. In line with The Electoral Hub’s commitments to promoting inclusion, we call for an inclusive campaign/manifesto by candidates as the importance of Youths, PWDs, and Women in politics cannot be overemphasized.”
On Policy-based campaign, she said, “we call on political parties and candidates to jettison mudslinging and ethno-religious campaigns and focus on issues critical to our common patrimony.”
Section 97 of the Electoral Act stipulates that anybody or association that engages in campaigning or broadcast based on religion, tribal or sectional reasons for the purpose of promoting or opposing a particular candidate or party commits an offence and is liable to conviction.
Hamman-Obel advised political parties to comply with all legal provisions regarding the elections and place great importance on conducting policy-based campaigns geared towards proffering solutions to real pertinent issues bedeviling the country.
She urged the media to encourage policy-based campaigns and discourage personal attacks that could hammer the importance of a violence free campaign.
The IRIAD Director advised citizens of Nigeria, who are also the electorate and the most important people in deciding the fate of the country, to shun every act of violence, hate speeches, spreading of fake news and cyber bullying.
