Razaq Bamidele
An Independent national Electoral Commission (INEC)-accredited observer organisation, Voters Awareness Initiative (VAI), has called on Nigerian electorate to come out en masse on March 11, 2023, to exercise their franchise for candidates of their choice in the governorship and states houses of assembly elections in a peaceful and orderly manner.
The organisation, in a statement, on Wednesday, in Lagos, also called on INEC to “remain focused and committed to upholding the provisions of the Electoral Act by ensuring that the conduct of the 11th March 2023 governorship and states’ Houses of Assembly elections do not fall below the high standards set by its successful and credible conduct of the presidential and national assembly elections of February 25, 2023 which has been applauded by both local and international observers.”
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The group’s statement was jointly signed by Wale Ogunade Esq, President and Nelson Ekujumi, Director, Media and Mobilisation.
The group also commended, “Forthright local and international observers for their objective and unbiased observations of the 25th February 2023 elections and charged them not to succumb to mischief and orchestrated campaign of blackmail and calumny, but to do same objectively for the 11th March 2023 elections in order to deepen Nigeria’s democracy.”
The media were also enjoined to be responsible and responsive to the tenets of journalism in their reportage and coverage of the elections as critical stakeholders in sustaining Nigeria’s democracy for the collective good of all Nigerians.
Also, the group charged security agencies to remain professional and neutral in the discharge of their functions for another round of peaceful, successful and credible elections on Saturday, March 11, 2023.
Additionally, “the political parties were advised to educate their members to keep the peace before, during and after the elections just as party agents were admonished to be peaceful and orderly on election day as their own contribution to a successful election.”
The group used the statement to wish Nigerians another round of a peaceful, successful and credible elections just as it enjoined them to remain calm, peaceful and orderly and refuse to be incited by fake news, falsehood and misinformation as they exercise their franchise on election day and beyond.
