Elections: Kaduna State Peace Commission engages Stakeholders in Discussion
Asma'u Halilu, Kaduna.
As the 2023 general election draws closer, the Kaduna State Peace Commission in collaboration with Community Initiative To Promote Peace (CIPP) has organized a stakeholders’ meeting aimed at identifying practical means towards achieving peaceful campaigns, elections and post election periods.
The Executive Vice-Chairman of the Commission, Dr. Saleh Momale, said the meeting was to engage stakeholders on conflict prevention and election-related violence in Kaduna state, North-West Nigeria.
Momale explained that it was necessary to work towards managing violence and activities of politicians and their supporters during and after election periods.
“Considering the fact that Kaduna state has had history of violence during campaigns and post election periods, hence the need to manage strategically politicians and their activities to prevent public disturbance of peace and social order,” he stressed.
He disclosed that the commission has set up a Campaign and Election-Monitoring Committee whose major task will be to monitor campaign rallies, media statements, social media postings and other publicity items that are released by contestants and political parties and as well ensure that such statements are not inciting or provocative to avoid social disharmony and violent reactions.
“Conflicts and violence are needless in a democratic process, as such, utterances and actions that are capable of triggering violent reactions should not be part of the actions of any candidate aspiring to lead citizens,” he said.
The Vice-Chairman while calling on religious leaders to refrain from endorsing candidates publicly, particularly in places of worship, also appealed to parents, youths and community leaders not to allow politicians to use them negatively during election.
The Commission, however, called on all candidates, political parties, supporters and the general citizenry to do all that is possible in ensuring peaceful conduct of campaigns and elections in Kaduna state.
