Peace commission calls for violence-free 2023 elections

The Kaduna Peace Commission has urged stakeholders to help prevent public disturbances during the 2023 general elections in the state. 

Saleh Momale, the commission’s executive vice-chairman, made the appeal on Thursday in Kaduna at the ‘Stakeholders Engagement on Conflict Prevention of Election-Related Violence’.

The commission organised the programme in collaboration with Community Initiative to Promote Peace (CIPP).

Mr Momale said the engagements were to discuss and fashion out mechanisms by which campaigns and elections would be very peaceful, adding that the stakeholders would also identify and discuss practical means and ways to ensure peaceful campaigns and elections.

“We are sending messages to political parties and candidates to be mindful of their utterances and actions and to know that their aspirations would be best achieved under an atmosphere of peace and harmony,” stated Mr Momale. “We want this message to get very clear to all the stakeholders in the political space.”

He added, “We want to see the citizens of Kaduna state, particularly the youths being law-abiding, avoiding any action that will trigger negative reactions.”

Mr Momale appealed to the stakeholders to join hands in supporting the peace process, urging political parties to carry out their activities more peacefully.

He noted that stakeholders would review the ongoing campaigns and identify issues and challenges that had the potential to threaten peaceful and harmonious coexistence.

“The committee will monitor campaign rallies, media statements, social media postings and other publicity items released by contestants and political parties to ensure that such statements are not inciting and provocative,” Mr Momale explained.

Mercy Corps’ chief of party, Danjuma Saidu, called for a better relationship among communities.

Mr Saidu encouraged the stakeholders to learn from each other and share experiences to develop a road map for successful campaigns and elections in the state.

Tahir Umar, Kaduna State Bureau of Interfaith’s director-general, urged all citizens to shun religious and ethnic differences and work harmoniously to ensure successful campaigns and elections.

(NAN)