2023: CAPPA Tasks Stakeholders on Credible Election

2023: CAPPA Tasks Stakeholders on Credible Election

Ahead of the 2023 general elections, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, the media and other stakeholders to play their roles in ensuring credible and fair polls. The Non-governmental Civil Society Organisation made the call at the launch of a report that evaluates the main challenges that

Ahead of the 2023 general elections, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, the media and other stakeholders to play their roles in ensuring credible and fair polls.

The Non-governmental Civil Society Organisation made the call at the launch of a report that evaluates the main challenges that may undermine the forthcoming general elections and how the stakeholders can mitigate them.

Speaking at the media presentation of the report tagged: “ 2023 General Elections- Challenges and Threats to Consolidating Democracy, the Executive Director of CAPPA, Akinbode Olufemi, noted that the publication highlights how stakeholders can work together to achieve a credible electioneering process in Nigeria.

He bemoaned the security challenges, fuel scarcity and cash scarcity which Nigerians are currently facing, stating that the situations are the result of misgovernance in the country over the years.

Olufemi also expressed his concerns over the logistic and administrative difficulties the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been facing; he enlisted the recent attacks on INEC facilities, fake news and the likelihood of social unrest as major factors militating against the successful conduct of the general elections.

He further explained that the report also recognises INEC’s efforts to improve the voting system in Nigeria by introducing the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV). He commended the electoral commission for its role in ensuring that credible elections are achieved.

He, however, urged the federal government and security agencies to flush out the violent groups that are striving to disrupt the coming polls. He also charged the government to provide adequate logistics for the electoral commission to conduct seamless elections.

Akinbode Olufemi also advised INEC to liaise with security agencies, and governmental and non-governmental agencies to conduct credible and all-inclusive elections.

He charged the media and civil society organisations to intensify their awareness programmes to empower the electorates with the information needed for peace building and good governance, indicating that such activities will enhance the voters to make informed decisions at the polls.

He said “As you all know, years of misgovernance have resulted in despair, unrest and uprisings across the country, particularly in the North East where the Boko Haram insurgency began, and in the South East where separatist tensions continue to run high. Many Nigerians feel the existing challenges may impede a credible general election. This report, therefore, interrogates the various concerns, including logistical and administrative difficulties faced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), attacks on its facilities, the lingering fuel and cash scarcity, rising security challenges in the polity, the spread of misinformation and fake news, the manifestations of voter suppression, and likelihood of social unrest.

“Alongside challenges to free and fair elections, the report zeroed in on the steps taken by President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to guarantee credible elections with a specific focus on the Electoral Act of 2022. It recognizes INEC’s efforts to improve elections through the adoption of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), and the largely successful voter registration managed by the Commission which captured 9.5 million new voters among others.

“Despite the worrying challenges observed, the report notes that there is hope that credible elections can be achieved, only if stakeholders work together to ramp up efforts in ensuring that all identified threats are nipped in the bud. The report targets critical stakeholders and their role in guaranteeing a free and fair election”, he stated.

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