The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), allayed the fears of Nigerians concerning the 2023 general elections, declaring that the elections will hold as planned.
The resident electoral commisioner in charge of Kwara State, Mallam Attahiru Madami made this declaration while speaking at the 2023 annual lecture of the National League of Veteran Journalists (NALVEJ), Kwara state council in Ilorin, the state capital.
He urged Nigerians to be responsible and avoid violence to ensure peaceful polls.
Madami, said that the commission is prepared to sustain it’s peaceful conduct of elections in the state.
He assured the political parties of unbiased process in the elections in the state.
In his address, Kwara state governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq who was represented by his special adviser on Strategy, Alhaji Saadu Salahu, restated his administration’s continued support for the media and newsmen, serving and retired in the state.
He said his administration is committed to peaceful coexistence of the people of the state.
In his remark the chairman of the occasion, Professor Olu Obafemi said democracy could not thrive if there are no free and fair elections.
He urged Nigerians not to vote along ethnic and religious lines to safeguard the unity and development of the country.
In his lecture, titled: “Towards A Peaceful 2023 General Elections, Mallam Yusuf Ali (SAN), said that election is very important and constitutional in the nation’s democratic governance.
Represented by a senior lawyer in his chamber, Mr Haruna Mahmud, Ali ,urged Nigerians not to fight over elections dispute, adding that they should approach tribunal, “as the laws are adequate to take care of all grievances”.
In his goodwill message,the Emir of Ilorin, Alh Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, who was represented by the district head of Owode, Alhaji Sidiq Kayode, admonished Nigerians to remain peaceful before, during and after the elections.
Earlier in his address of welcome , the chairman of NALVEJ, Alhaji Tunde Akanbi, appealed to the political class to play politics in accordance with the laid down rules and regulations.
COV/ALI MUHAMMAD RABIU