The Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, CACOL, has urged Nigerian voters and politicians to avoid violence and embrace peace as the 2023 general elections get underway on Saturday.
The organization stated that the elections will take place despite the country’s numerous challenges, such as fuel scarcity, cash shortages, insecurity, and high inflation, among others, but urged Nigerians to vote peacefully.
CACOL made this appeal in a press release titled ‘2023 Elections: CACOL calls for Calm’ issued on Thursday by its Director of Administration and Programmes, Tola Oresanwo.
“It would be recalled that we have few days before the presidential and parliamentary elections in Nigeria, It will be the largest democratic exercise on the continent as Africa’s most populous nation picks a new president,” the statement said in part.
“The election, as important as it is, will take place while the country grapples with a slew of economic and security issues, ranging from fuel and cash shortages to rising terror attacks, high inflation, and a collapsing local currency.”
CACOL also called on INEC, the country’s electoral body, to ensure free, fair, and credible democratic elections throughout the country.
While we applaud the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its efforts to ensure a credible election through the use of innovative technologies such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), we cannot help but be concerned about existing issues such as logistical difficulties with fuel and cash scarcity, which could jeopardize the integrity of the elections,” it said.
“We all know that fuel shortages and scarcity of the newly redesigned local currency have stirred violent protests in parts of Nigeria as millions of people struggle to get their hands on new versions of bank notes.
“The rising security concerns and frequent attacks on INEC facilities in the country is a challenge to the safety of voters and integrity of the forthcoming election which is poised to become a seminal moment in the country’s political history.
“We at CACOL would like to use this medium to call on all stakeholders that have one thing or the other to do with the upcoming elections to put in their best so that we can have free, fair, and transparent elections. We would also like to urge citizens to remain calm and allow the government to address the country’s numerous problems.”
“To the contestants for various elective positions, we want them to know that they can only represent the people in an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity; we need peaceful elections to give democracy a boost in the country, thus the need for all candidates, party chairmen, and members of all political parties to respect the voice of Nigerians and embrace the politics of peace,” it added.
