Kaduna state gubernatorial candidates contesting on the plaforms of various political parties have signed peace accord to abide by electoral guidelines and ensure peaceful conduct throughout the electioneering processes.
At the event organized by the Kaduna State Peace Commission and the Legal Awareness for Nigerian Women LEADS, the State Deputy Governor, Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe warned political office seekers against dangerous social media posts, hate speech, violence, and intolerance capable of triggering violence in the state and the country at large.
The Deputy Governor urged the contestants to transmit the signed commitment to party members and supporters and also engaged in vigorous enlightenment campaigns by showing good examples in their conduct.
“The impression of anonymity that most of the social media use seems to encourage certain types of excess of intolerance, misinformation, hate speech and sometimes dangerous incitements”, she said.
The Chairman, Kaduna State Peace Commission, Most Reverend Josiah emphasized on the need for citizens to make use of available constitutional provisions and other relevant laws , to address grievances that may arise during the election rather than taking the laws into their hands.
He stated that violent-free elections in the state and the country in general was possible, citing examples with the 2015 and in 2019 general elections.
“It was a miracle, particularly following the 2011 Post-Presidential Election crisis. Today, I want to remind ourselves that we can repeat that miracle, and, by God’s grace, we will.”
Earlier, Governance Programme Manager, ActionAid Nigeria , Mr. Celestine Okwudili Odo, remarked that the peace pact was targeted at addressing issues that pose threats to peace and security, thus ensuring accountability, aa well as deterrence for hate or dangerous speech by politicians.
He however encouraged citizens to make use of the opportunity provided by INEC under the electoral Act 2022 , to make their participation count in the forth-coming election through the collection of their PVCs and coming out to vote for their preferred candidates in the forthcoming elections.
Cover/Shindong Bala
