Nigeria and crucial for credible 2023 polls

This has attracted the curiosity of patriotic Nigerians who’ve taken it upon themselves to make sure that the elections weren’t solely seamless, however open, credible and acceptable.

One in all such teams is The Compatriots, a discussion board of some patriotic eminent Nigerians with ardour for good governance.

At its maiden press briefing in Abuja, Chairman of the Compatriots, Obong Victor Attah, a former governor of Akwa Ibom, expressed concern over the state of the nation, saying Nigerians ought to unite to beat present challenges of insecurity, collapsed economic system and academic system, tribal, non secular, regional and sophistication points, and try to construct a brand new nation.

Attah mentioned elections present the platform for Nigerians to make knowledgeable decisions by electing leaders who will successfully deal with the challenges dealing with the nation.

Prince Tom Iseghohi, Secretary and Working Officer of the Compatriots mentioned the group would help basic social and political reforms to strengthen the Nigerian undertaking.

”These embody the promotion of core values of fairness, justice and equity for each citizen, realization of the total potentialities of each Nigerian, safety of the rights of each Nigerian wherever she or he decides to reside, and primacy of peaceable coexistence between and amongst Nigerian communities.

”The group can even encourage a correct sense of nationhood and customary nationality.

“It guarantees to mobilise the most effective mental sources in addressing the important thing challenges which might be hindering the event of Nigeria as a robust and viable political and financial neighborhood and promote a community of involved Nigerians in the direction of aiding within the enchancment of governance in any respect ranges in addition to within the provision of social providers.”

As its contributions to a strong political atmosphere forward of the elections, the Compatriots had engaged the Impartial Nationwide Electoral Fee (INEC), held parley with presidential candidates and raised consciousness of Nigerians on the crucial for seamless elections devoid of violence.

At its assembly with INEC, the Compatriots made a presentation entitled: ‘Let Be a part of Palms to Re-Invent Nigeria’.

On the assembly, the chairman amongst different issues, recommended INEC for its agency dedication to the conduct of free and truthful polls throughout the normal elections.

Attah mentioned: “It’s clear by your actions that we consider that sovereignty belongs to the folks and their inalienable rights to sovereignty can solely be protected by correctly carried out elections which might be free, truthful, respectable and replicate the need of the folks.”

He urged INEC to take deliberate steps to show unquestionable transparency throughout the polls

Equally, in its parley with the presidential candidates, the group mentioned that the engagement was to make sure the conduct of credible polls, in order to bequeath a “new and higher Nigeria for each Nigerian”.

The parley concerned presidential candidates of the PRP, LP, SDP, PDP and APC, amongst others.

A communique issued on the finish of the assembly with the presidential candidates mentioned the interface was to contribute to the expansion of democracy in Nigeria.

”INEC’s integrity and competence ought to be protected by all of the stakeholders and Nigerians.

”It’s vital, nonetheless, to insist on the utilisation of capacities that symbolize impartial audit of its methods and processes from now till the elections.

”Candidates and their supporters ought to recognise that each one Nigerians stay up for these elections as being those that may produce a management that may make a distinction between additional decline and sustainable greatness.

”Nigerians anticipate an honest contest, a reputable election and a peaceable transition to nice management from all three arms of presidency.”

The Compatriots, due to this fact, admonished candidates who lose the elections to both settle for defeat or search redress in courtroom, however ”should keep away from throwing the nation into crises over the elections.”

They emphasised that Nigerians who registered for the elections ought to be availed of alternatives to vote.

”This embody permitting those that are legally registered to gather their PVCs and enhancing the safety atmosphere in order that it doesn’t disenfranchise voters on election days.”

The Compatriots additionally admonished the Judiciary to play its half within the entrenchment of democratic beliefs and tradition within the nation.

”The judiciary has important position in enhancing the standard of our democratic course of, and these elections will present it with a chance to train its accountability with the best stage of integrity and impartiality,” the group mentioned.

The Compatriots are additionally involved in regards to the present hardship within the nation and the way it might have an effect on the elections.

It due to this fact urged that ”authorities ought to take steps to alleviate the residents of the extreme difficulties beneath which they reside in the mean time.

”It will drastically enhance the ambiance beneath which the elections might be held.”

To engender mass participation of voters within the elections, the group mentioned faculties ought to be closed to permit college students who registered for the elections to solid their votes.

It additionally admonished politicians to advertise accountable campaigns devoid of violence.

“College students in tertiary establishments symbolize a crucial phase within the entrenchment of our democracy, as such the federal government ought to give them alternatives to vote within the elections.

”Politicians ought to recognise that the elections are in regards to the residents’ proper to freely train decisions and never simply in regards to the ambitions of the contestants.

”Nigerians are nervous about adverse campaigns which embody damaging rhetoric and actions which strip contestants, considered one of whom we anticipate to be elected President quickly, of dignity and respect.

”Extra Nigerians ought to be given alternatives to see contestants focus on points and contest concepts and methods in probably the most mature method as was witnessed at this assembly.

”For the brand new authorities to take pleasure in legitimacy and normal help from the residents, amongst different issues, there should be an emphasis on making certain credible elections,” the Compatriots emphasised.

It’s clear that the Compatriots are totally dedicated to making sure the conduct of credible elections on the planet’s most populous black nation, as Nigerians head out to the polls on February 25 and March 11, 2023.