Ahead of the November 11,2023 governorship election in kogi state, Stakeholders have tasked political parties and their candidates to embark on issue based campaign and shun violence and intimidation throughout the electioneering period.
This is the summation of the participants at a one day engagement for Kogi East Senatorial District on integrity and community ownership in the fight against corruption and transparency organised by Conscience for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution CHRCR held on Friday
The participants decried the disinterest attitude of the members of inter party advisory council IPAC to the issues of ongoing campaign by the parties
According to the communique at the end the summit, lamented that the only female candidate has withdrawn despite the support from various stakeholders in the demand for women participation and representation.
“The campaigns for the November 11, 2023 Elections have commenced with little evidence of issue-based engagement by Political parties and their Candidates. There is evidence that the out-going administration in the State may not conduct Local Government elections before December 14th 2023, as stipulated by the 1999 Constitution as Amended,that at least 150 day’s notice shall be given to participating political parties before the polls.
* Collection of Permanent Voters Cards towards the November 11th 2023 Governorship election has begun with INEC announcing the Local Governments involved. However, there is little information and awareness on this issue made available to the public by INEC.
” Elected political actors do not make themselves available to citizens for engagement and this has implications as confidence of the people in the process is low particularly at community levels
“There is serious concerns about safety of Women and Persons with Disabilities towards the November 11th 2023 Governorship election. Political parties and their candidates have no strategic campaign messages on Anti-Corruption meanwhile this has become a key challenge at state level in our electoral process”
While abhoring the weak engagement of the Electoral and Governance process by Citizens for Accountability and Transparency noted that there was no visible effort to bring together Political Parties and their Candidates to discuss their manifesto for the Citizens in the November 11th 2023 Governorship elections
“The restriction on posting of political Bill Boards and campaign materials by the Signage Agency in Lokoja is loop sided and favours the ruling party. This policy shrinks participation in the political space, which is against the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022
The stakeholders charged participating Political parties to join the legal campaign to reverse the restriction on posting of campaign materials such as Bill boards and posters
It charged women groups to engage the participating political parties and their candidates, on issues around women participation in the political process and leadership.
While motivating citizenry to continue to hold elected political leaders accountable by insisting community engagements towards the November 11th 2023 elections. urged them to be courageous and bold in demanding for accountability and transparency on elections at State level as this is their constitutional rights and responsibility
“The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as a matter of urgency, should engage citizens on where, when and how to collect their Permanent Voters Card (PVC) the engagement concluded by appreciating CHRCR in their crusade. They also appreciated CISLAC and John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation for their continued support
*
