As political campaigns intensify and enter a crucial stage ahead of the 2023 general election in Nigeria, there are concerns among stakeholders that the wave of violence could undermine the credibility of the poll.
They are, therefore, asking the contenders to play by the rule and ensure violence-free polls.
In the last few weeks, since electioneering started, there has been an unprecedented rise in the number of violent attacks on parties’ campaign trains and also on the facilities of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Observers say it is the worst possible start–one of the highest witnessed in the last two decades.
They also fear that part of politicians’ desperate tactics could be to engage thugs to disrupt elections in opponents’ strongholds and scare people away from coming out to vote, which would ultimately give them advantage.
There are reports that many politicians have equally threatened to deploy violence against their opponents to aid their victory at the poll.
Part of the fears stems from the worsening insecurity situation across the country and the after effect it would have on conducting credible polls, especially voter turnout, security of INEC officials and election materials in several violence-prone locations.
INEC offices in Osun, Ogun and Enugu have been attacked in recent times, forcing police and other security agencies to increase security surveillance around its offices across the States. Political thugs have also attacked or disrupted rallies of opposing parties in States like Zamfara, Borno, Kaduna, among others, leading to fears that security personnel would be overstretched during the election.
Last week, the Federal Government itself noted that the spate of violence associated with electioneering ahead of the 2023 poll poses a threat to the successful conduct of the elections.
Despite repeated assurances to Nigerians by the INEC that it was prepared to conduct free and fair polls next year, stakeholders are still concerned about the commission’s readiness and capacity for the task ahead.
The stakeholders called the attention of security agencies to the threats posed by the various conflicts ravaging the country, lamenting that the on-going armed conflicts by different ethnic militia groups would set the tone for electoral violence in 2023.
They, therefore, urged that all efforts must be made to ensure a violence-free 2023 general election.
