Lokoja – As the 2023 general elections draw near, a civil society organisation, Conscience for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution (CHRCR), has
decried the increasing attacks on the facilities of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) across the nation
The CHRCR in a communique issued at the end of a one-day review meeting held in Lokoja, Kogi State said the attacks by yet to be identified perpetrators
have been raising tension and concern among the citizens.
The Executive Director of CHRCR, Comrade Idris Miliki Abdul, in the statement said the citizens have become apprehensive about the attacks.
Miliki warned that the attacks if not quickly brought under control may affect voters turn out for the elections.
The review meeting held on December 13 was attended by Representatives of registered political parties participating in the 2023 general elections and journalists.
The one-day review meeting with political parties centred on prioritising anti-corruption and accountability issues towards the 2023 elections at state level.
Stakeholders at the meeting said the general insecurity pervading the environment preceding the elections has become a cause for worry that could lead to voter apathy at the polls.
They called on security agencies to rise to the occasion to pave a way for the conduct of hitch- free and credible elections.
They equally called on all security agencies to strategically engage relevant stakeholders constantly on election security towards the 2023 general elections.
The INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakub had announced few days ago that the commission had witnessed 50 incidences of attacks in 15 states since 2019.
According to him, there were eight attacks in 2019, 22 in 2020 and 12 in 2021 while eight had been recorded in 2022.
The INEC chairman stated that Imo State topped the list with 11 incidences followed by Osun with seven, five cases in Enugu and Akwa Ibom, while Abia and Cross Rivers also had four incidences each.
He further informed that two incidences were recorded in Anambra and Taraba states and one each in Bayelsa, Ondo, Lagos, Borno, Kaduna and Ogun States.
The stakeholders also decried the outrageous charges on billboard placement by the new Kogi State Signage Law, insisting that it has not helped in promoting active participation and election information dissemination and campaign activities.
They unanimously agreed that the outrageous advert fees in the state must be addressed to ensure a level playing field for all political parties and their candidates.
They also called on the state government to protect the advert materials during electioneering campaigns.
They stressed the need for Nigerians to collect their outstanding PVCs, calling on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and stakeholders to actively sensitise and mobilise the citizens for collection of the outstanding PVCs.
The Executive Director said there was a need for change in strategy by INEC for PVC collection ” as the current strategy is not producing the right responses from citizens.”
In agreement with CHRCR, stakeholders at the meeting urged political parties to effectively engage in mobilisation of citizens for collection of PVCs as they are the primary beneficiary of the electoral process.
They added that INEC has been unimpressive in mobilizing citizens on the collection of PVC, noting that the electoral commission has taken no deliberate step with media engagement like radio programmes, jingles or distribution of IEC.
They called on all stakeholders to aggressively improve sensitisation and mobilization for citizens to collect their PVCs before the end of the process as announced by INEC.
They noted that political parties and their candidates are not enlightening their followers enough during their campaigns through distribution of manifestos.
The one-day meeting was organised in continuation of the engagement on prioritising anti-corruption and accountability issues towards the 2023 general elections at state level in Kogi State with recognized political parties.
