By SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri –
The Network of Civil Society Organizations (NECSOB), Borno State Chapter has called on all critical stakeholders to desist from acts that could jeopardize the credibility of the forth coming 2023 elections
The Executive Director NECSOB, Comrade Bulama Aviso made the call on Wednesday in a communique issued shortly after a town hall meeting with leaderships of political parties, security agencies and other critical stakeholders in Maiduguri on voters education and electoral processes.
The stakeholders according to the communique recommended that partnership and synergy should be improved among actors to ensure adequate security before, during and after elections while political parties should ensure that their leaders, candidates, members play according to the legal framework governing the electoral process such as the Nigerian Constitution 1999, Electoral Act 2022; INEC Guidelines and 2022 their Parties Constitution.
The Network of the civil society and partners further appreciated the support of British Council and European Union (EU) for supporting the 2-day town hall meeting and acknowledged the commitments and solidarity of the Borno State civil societies, clubs and associations for their passion to conduct peaceful and credible election in the forth-coming 2023 elections.
NECSOB with funding from the EU, noted that with the support, it would make a difference in improving participation in democracy and for its resultant impact in free and fair election to be realized, the importance of Voter Education in election and electoral processes, is essential.
It emphasized the need to engage citizens and leaderships of political parties in the state at the first edition of its town hall meeting held on 8th November, 2022 at Dujima International Hotel, Bolori Roundabout Maiduguri .
The stakeholders further observed that many citizens in Borno State are not aware of their rights and responsibilities as voters such as; right to register, right to vote and be voted for when registered, right to recall an elected representative, right to secrecy (privacy) when voting.
Others include right to attend rallies and campaigns of political parties and candidates, right to information about election, responsibility to register, responsibility to vote, responsibility to conduct oneself in an orderly manner, responsibility to keep Permanent Voter Cards safe, responsibility to enlighten others about the benefits of participation and other electoral offences and penalties.
They also recommended that political parties should carefully recruit and train their agents on their electoral obligations during the elections as well as avoid hate speeches and vote buying including vote selling, while cautioning political stakeholders to avoid hate speeches during their electioneering campaigns.
They also suggested that there should be professional, impartial and incorruptible discharge of responsibilities by the security operatives in ensuring and securing sensitive election materials, while security forces should avoid unwarranted use of force which may negatively impact on the participation of citizens during the electioneering process and all the security operatives should conduct themselves in professional manner in the discharge of their responsibilities before, during and after the election;
The electoral stakeholders further recommended that the media should be professional in their conduct and respect the ethical codes for free, fair, open and transparent coverage of the general elections as well as avoid sensationalism, fake news, disinformation or misinformation of the public before, during and after the election with the media regulatory ethics and bodies being monitored and appropriate sanctions against erring media practitioners and outlets applied.
They also emphasized the need to improve sensitization of the general public on electoral offenses; need for security force enforce F.O. 237 principle before, during and after the elections, while adequate delivery of justice and the justice system in the electoral process should be maintained
The Stakeholders also recommended that adequate and dedicated training to security operative on electoral activities, especially, use of weapons, provision of adequate funding and mobilization towards a successful conduct of 2023 elections. They also urged INEC to work and synergize with key stakeholders like the CSOs for proper monitoring of electoral activities;
They also suggested for availability of technical staff to attend to BVAS machine (in cases of failure) in every polling unit and if not possible, they should be present at certain distance to attend to cases of failure, cater for the deaf, blind, and other physically challenged persons on the BVAS machine usage.
