WADEMOS network urges peaceful and credible elections in Nigeria
The West Africa Democracy Solidarity (WADEMOS) Network has sent its well-wishes to all Nigerians ahead of the upcoming elections to elect a new president, members of the Federal House of Assembly, governors, and representatives of the State House of Assembly. The elections will take place on February 25 and March 11, 2023, respectively.
The WADEMOS Network recognized the efforts of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security agencies to ensure peaceful, fair and credible general elections. It urged Nigerians to turn out in their numbers on election days and called on all stakeholders, including the INEC and political parties, to respect the framework, rules, and regulations governing the elections and resort to appropriate legal processes and institutional mechanisms for addressing grievances.
Dr. Kojo Pumpuni Asante, head of the WADEMOS election observation mission, emphasized the importance of avoiding inflammatory language and hate speech, which could trigger violence during the elections. He also urged the INEC and civil society organizations (CSOs) to enhance their communication protocols and structures to provide timely information to counter fake news and misinformation during and after the elections.
The WADEMOS Network commended the efforts of civil society organizations, particularly Nigerian member-organizations CDD-West Africa, YIAGA Africa, Women in Politics Forum, and the Transitional Monitoring Group, who deployed innovative observation platforms to monitor the credibility and conduct of the elections.
However, the Network condemned the death of senatorial candidate Oyibo Chukwu and five other supporters of the Labour Party in Enugu State, and urged security agencies to demonstrate their responsiveness to such attacks and arrest the perpetrators to serve as a deterrent to all unscrupulous elements seeking to perpetrate violence during this election.
WADEMOS recognized the importance of the Nigerian elections in sustaining the political and economic stability in West Africa and as a pacesetter for the upcoming presidential elections in the sub-region this year. It expressed the hope that the Nigerian elections would reignite hope in democracy in the sub-region, considering the unfavorable political environment confronting the region.
