INEC To Meet Political Parties Over Campaign Violence Next Week

Barely two weeks after leaders of various political parties signed the peace accord to maintain peace, before, during and after the 2023 general elections, violence and attacks have trailed the campaign train of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP.)

It is against this backdrop that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has slated next week to meet with leaders of the various political parties to chat a path on how to avoid violence and lawlessness in campaigns going forward.

The Commission, who warned politicians not to complicate the existing insecurity in the country, also showed concern about the recent clashes among party supporters in some states.

Naija News gathered that the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, while speaking in Abuja today at the training of master trainers on election technology for the 2023 general elections, appealed to the various parties to focus on issues and steer clear of attacks on each other.

Yakubu said “even as the Commission is working hard to ensure a credible process in the forthcoming elections, reports of clashes among parties and their supporters in some States of the country during the ongoing electioneering campaign is worrisome. So too is the reported denial of access to public facilities for parties and candidates in some States of the Federation.

“Let me caution parties and their supporters to focus on issues and steer clear of attacks on each other. These are not only violations of the Electoral Act 2022 but also negate the voluntary commitment by all political parties and candidates to the letter and spirit of the Peace Accord signed about three weeks ago under the auspices of the National Peace Committee (NPC).

“Parties, candidates and their supporters should not by acts of commission or omission further complicate the prevailing security situation in the country. A peaceful electioneering campaign is critical to the conduct of peaceful and credible elections.

“The Commission will continue to monitor the situation closely and will convene a meeting with leaders of political parties next week to discuss, among other issues, the imperative of peaceful campaigns and equal access to public facilities.

“In the same vein, the Commission will also meet with the security agencies under the auspices of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) next week.”