Rev Mathew Kukah
The Kukah Centre, a non-governmental organisation, on Wednesday engaged stakeholders in a pre-election bilateral consultation ahead of the signing of the Peace Accord for the Aug. 15 Osun governorship election.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the engagement was organised to deepen dialogue, build consensus and promote wider understanding among stakeholders toward ensuring peaceful, credible and inclusive elections.
Speaking at the event, the Project Manager of the National Peace Committee (NPC), Mrs Asabe Ndahi, said the Peace Accord represents a shared commitment by political actors and stakeholders to place peace above political interests and uphold democratic values throughout the electoral process.
Ndahi said the consultations were not only to prepare stakeholders for the signing scheduled for July 30, but also to provide a platform for discussing emerging electoral risks, strengthening institutional coordination and promoting collective action to prevent violence.
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She called on traditional and religious leaders to use their platforms to consistently advocate peaceful elections, non-violence and respect for democratic values.
According to her, stakeholders should facilitate dialogue among political actors and youth groups to de-escalate tensions and resolve emerging conflicts before they become violent.
“The need for stronger collaboration among security agencies, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), civil society organisations and community-based early warning networks to promptly identify and report potential threats to the electoral process is paramount.
“Findings from the Political and Security Context Analysis identified 18 high-risk local government areas and 12 medium-risk areas across the state, requiring sustained stakeholder engagement and proactive conflict prevention,” she said.
Ndahi identified organised political violence, institutional tensions, electoral offences, voter inducement and misinformation as some of the critical threats capable of undermining the credibility of the election.
She noted that sustained cooperation among political parties, security agencies, electoral institutions, the media and civil society was essential to ensuring a peaceful electoral process.
Ndahi urged political parties, their supporters and citizens to reject violence, uphold democratic values and ensure that political competition remains peaceful throughout the electoral cycle.
NAN further reports that the bilateral consultation forms part of the NPC’s broader peacebuilding interventions ahead of the formal signing of the Peace Accord for the governorship election.
The meeting was attended by traditional rulers, traditional worshippers, religious leaders, and representatives of civil society organisations and the media, among others.(NAN) www.nannews.ng
