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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has expressed concern that despite its efforts at ensuring a credible general election in 2023, violent clashes among political parties and their supporters in some states of the federation may likely derail the agenda. The electoral agency is further worried about the growing resort to incendiary comments by politicians, notwithstanding the recent signing of the peace accord by the leaders of the 18 political parties ahead of the forthcoming election.
INEC has also expressed dismay over reported cases of denial of access to public facilities to opposition parties and their candidates in some states of the federation and the tendency of some political parties and their supporters to embark on character assassination of their opponents rather than engage on issues-based campaigns.
As a result of the ugly development, the agency has resolved to summon leaders of the various political parties to a meeting to deliberate on the issues. The Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who revealed this in Abuja following the attack on supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by suspected political thugs in Kaduna State, described the development as worrisome.
He noted that the violent acts were not only a violation of the Electoral Act 2022, but also negated the voluntary commitment by all political parties and candidates to the letter and spirit of the peace accord.
The 18 political parties that will participate in next year’s presidential election, had on September 29, a day after INEC officially lifted the lid on presidential and national assembly election campaigns, signed the national peace accord pledging to abide by the rules of engagement.
Expectedly, the peace accord set the standard for the campaigns. By the terms of the agreement, which was designed by the National Peace Committee, the candidates and their political parties agreed to conduct campaigns that would be focused on issues. They are also expected to promote their parties’ manifesto, and ensure that their spokespersons and members abide by the rule of law and refrain from bribery, extortion, and violence.
At the signing of the peace accord, the Chairman of the Nigeria Peace Committee and former Military Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, had emphasised the need for parties to focus on national developmental issues rather than insults and violence in the run up to the elections. However, the violent campaigns that followed shortly after signing the peace accord pointed to the danger ahead.
Apart from the reported assault on PDP supporters in Kaduna, there are other instances of intolerance towards opposing political parties. A fortnight ago, scores of the All Progressives Congress (APC) members in Oyo State, were allegedly attacked by a suspected chieftain of a rival political party. Supporters of Labour Party (LP) have regularly been attacked and their meetings severally disrupted in Enugu State. The party has also cried out against harassment and intimidation of its members and supporters by security personnel in Ebonyi State. Some Labour Party members have reportedly been attacked in Lagos State.
In Imo State, the APC and the main opposition PDP are accusing each other of fomenting trouble ahead of 2023 elections. While the PDP has accused the state government of trying to make the environment toxic for any peaceful election, the APC alleges that the PDP is stoking violence.
There have also been allegations of states not allowing opposition parties to conduct their rallies; sponsorship of thugs to attack and disrupt opposition parties’ gatherings, refusal to allow opponents advertise their programmes on billboards and the use of incendiary language against their opponents. It is disturbing that these are happening a few months to the 2023 election. If the creeping culture of violence and intolerance is not curtailed, the election is likely to be endangered. That would be a sad story for Nigeria’s democracy.
It is unfortunate that in spite of the elaborate show of understanding exhibited by the presidential candidates at the accord signing ceremony, some party chieftains and their supporters are yet to eschew violence and play politics without bitterness. It is sad that some politicians are bent on reducing our politics to a “do or die affair.”
This is probably why INEC has enjoined the parties, candidates and their supporters not to, by acts of commission or omission, further complicate the prevailing security situation in the country with violent campaigns. For peaceful and credible elections, the political class should refrain from making unguarded utterances and focus more on issues-based campaigns.
Nothing should be allowed to truncate the 2023 general elections. Contest for power cannot be allowed to degenerate to open hostility. Election is about the celebration of democracy. It must be devoid of violence and the use of intemperate language. While the expression of concern by the INEC Chairman is in order, the agency should not hesitate to caution those who flout the peace accord.
