2023; Stakeholders Frowns destruction of Campaign Billboards, Posters in Kogi.
* Urges Security Surveillance on INEC offices across the country.
The critical stakeholders in election processes in kogi state have frown at the increasing attacks on campaign posters and billboards across the state.
This is as they charged political parties and INEC to mobilised eligible electorate to collect their permanent Voters cards PVCs for them to vote in the forthcoming general elections.
This was the submission of the stakeholders in a one day review meeting of political parties, CSO and the Media on anti Corruption and Transparency towards 2023 general elections organised by Conscience for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution CHRCR held on Wednesday in LoKoja.
In a communiqué signed by Idris Abdul Miliki, Executive Director, CHRCR charged political parties and relevant Agencies to ensure that electorate are adequately mobilised to pick their PVC from INEC designate centers in the Local Government, Wards and polling units across the country.
According to the discussants, women should develop active interest in party politics in order to remain relevant in the national political equation, saying in politics, it was wrong to give preferential treatment to different gender.
In his lead contribution, the Executive Director, CHRCR challenged Political Parties to strengthen their Internal party democracies by collaborating with Civil Society during primaries and other party activities.
According to him, the Political parties and their Candidates need to include anti-corruption transparency and accountability in their campaign activities and manifestos.
“Political parties and their Candidates should ensure that campaign activities is used to promote their manifestos to their members and the general public.
“Hate speech, inflammatory utterances and unguided statements by political party members, candidates and their supporters should be checked by Security Agencies and INEC and those found to be wanting should be prosecuted
“Security Agencies must nip in the bud the general insecurity issues in the country to ensure a free, fair and credible elections.
“The outrageous signage fees for Political Parties to mount their campaign materials in the State must be addressed to ensure a level playing field for all political parties and their candidates and those adverts materials must be protected by the State authorities.” The communique emphasised.
While charging political parties to establish functional offices and websites, called on security Agencies to engage relevant stakeholders on election security strategy towards a hitch free 2023 general elections
