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From Felix Ikem, Nsukka
A socio-cultural group, ”Nsukka Ezue”, on Thursday engaged members of political parties and voters in Enugu North Senatorial District of Enugu State on political dialogue to ensure peaceful and violence-free polls.
The political dialogue tagged “Free and Peaceful 2023 Election in Nigeria: Focus on Enugu North Senatorial Zone,” organised by the Nsukka Ezue whose members are drawn from the six local government areas in Enugu North Senatorial zone was held at Adada Hall in Nsukka LGA.
Prof. Damian Opata, the chairman of the group in a remark said that Nsukka Ezue is a non-partisan group that is committed to peaceful, free, and credible elections, stressing that measures adopted by electoral empire would eliminate rigging as well as reduce election violence.
“2023 elections are here with us, they will be different from past elections in Nigeria, especially because the political stakes are very high.
“Enugu North Senatorial District is peopled by men and women who are peaceful and responsible. We are brothers and sisters. After the elections, we shall remain brothers and sisters.
“In 2023 elections, votes will count, and rigging will be almost impossible. The new technology acquired by INEC is not only to secure fair and free elections but to also reduce election violence, thuggery, ballot snatching, and vote buying, among others,” he said.
Opata said further that the group was not comfortable with the use of abusive language on social media platforms by some supporters of political parties against their opponents.
“It is frightening that we now have a lot of abusive language and violent rhetoric pulsating in different social media platforms, this is not what the good people of Nsukka zone are known for, we can not afford to thwart our value and brotherhood simply because of elections.
“We need a free and peaceful election in our zone in particular and Nigeria in general, Nsukka Ezue is appealing to men and women, boys and girls, and all persons of voting age to troop out massively, quietly, and peacefully to vote for candidates of their choice.
“We plead with our people to shun violence and thuggery. Life is not two, life is dear. It is precious. Let us pledge to ourselves that we shall vote in peace and go home in peace,” he appealed.
One of the resource persons, Prof Fab Onah, of the Department of Public Administration and Local Government, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN)/said that for Nigerian to achieve the change they desire that they must participate actively in the forthcoming general elections.
He noted that one of the major factors that have affected past elections in the country is apathy arising from the notion by some electorates that their votes will not count.
“We should all come out en mass to vote for the candidate of our choice as well as see our PVC as our AK47 to vote the right candidate to victory,” he said.
Prof Ike Onyishi, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, UNN said that the 2022 electoral act is a game changer in the forthcoming election as it will eliminate every form of electoral malpractice such as rigging, and manual writing of election results, among others.
“The introduction of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS)0 in the 2022 electoral act is a game changer that will make every vote count.
“The era of snatching of ballot boxes is over, falsification of results by writing it manually is over as all results will be transmitted to INEC portal electronically.
“Nigeria should feel free to vote the candidate of their choice on February 25 and March 11 polls and ensure that the elections are peaceful, free, and fair,” he said.
Another resource person, Prof Fabian Ezema, from the Department of Physics and Astronomy, UNN advised Nigerians to vote for candidates that have fear of God and good human relations since when the righteous is on the throne the people will rejoice.
Earlier, HRH Igwe Joe Anikwe, the traditional ruler of the Diogbo community in Igbo-Etite LGA who chaired the event urged Nigerians to put the interest of the country first by being peaceful during and after the elections.
The dialogue was attended by representatives of political parties, traditional rulers, and civil society organisations, among others.
