ECOWAS Fact-Finding Mission for Nigerian Elections says the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), cannot achieve free and fair elections without collaboration with relevant stakeholders.
The Head of the mission and former Chairman of the Electoral Commission of Ghana, Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan made the assertion during an interactive session with civil society organizations and media in Kano.
According to him, the 2023 general elections remain important to the African continent and beyond, hence the need for stakeholders to play their roles to achieve democratic expectations.
He said that the delegation had been talking with INEC, security agencies and other stakeholders, saying that the mission had visited various zones in Nigeria to hear from the stakeholders.
The head of the mission however stressed that, the electoral commission is not a kingmaker but rather an important element to the actualization of free and fair elections in collaboration with eligible voters, political parties, candidates and all relevant stakeholders.
Dr. Kwadwo described civil societies as groups that work for the benefit of societies , as such they have a critical roles to play in the electoral process to achieve the desired objectives.
The leader of the delegation stressed the need for stakeholders to join hands to ensure that the nation conducted an election that would be a model for the continent.
He charged civil society organizations to work in collaboration songs instead of at variance, adding that there is strength in coming to work together to achieve success.
“These elections are going to be very important not only for Nigeria but for all of us in Africa and even beyond Africa. We dare not fail. To fail is going to spell doom far beyond Nigeria. That is how critical these elections are”
Responding, some of the participants Abubakar Abdulqadir DanGambo, Jamila Musa, Abdulgafar Oladimeji and Zainab Ahmed expressed worries over increased disenfranchisement characterized by intimidation, thuggery ,vote buying, hate speech and recruitment of unprofessionals as spokesperson’s for politicians.
They noted that, neutrality of security agencies, collaboration among different CSOs, training and retraining of media personnel , politicians and other relevant stakeholders on rules guiding electoral process, would go a long way in ensuring free and fair elections.
The interactive session organized by the ECOWAS fact finding mission for Nigerian election with CSOs and media in Kano witnessed large turn out of civil society organizations, media and relevant stakeholders in the electoral process.
KHADIJAH ALIYU
