Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) , Prof Mahmood Yakubu implored 18 registered political parties to shun abusive and hate speeches in their campaign slated to begin on Monday.
He gave the advise on Monday at the opening of a two- day capacity building workshop on the commission’s Processes, Preparations for the 2023 General Election and Critical Issues in the Electoral Act 2022 for INEC Press Corps, held in Lagos
He emphasized the need for the political parties “to critically study and pay attention to the provisions of the Constitution, the Electoral Act, the Police Act and the Public Order Act for the proper and peaceful conduct of political campaigns, rallies and processions”.
He reminded them that their campaigns and slogans must not be tainted with “abusive language directly or indirectly likely to injure religious, ethnic, tribal or sectional feelings”.
He cautioned that abusive, intemperate, slanderous or base language or innuendoes designed or likely to provoke violent reaction or emotions shall not be employed or used in political campaigns.
Represented by Barrister Festus Okoye, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, Prof Yakubu,charged the media to exercise their constitutional responsibility and hold the political parties to task, ensuring they uphold the guidelines and provisions of the Electoral Act as it relates to the coming elections.
He said the media has critical role to play in the overall success of the election and reassured that INEC will deploy technology to give Nigerians full experience of electoral justice.
He added:”I want to assure Nigerians that the Commission will deploy and continue to deploy appropriate technology for the conduct of elections. The Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and INEC Result Viewing Portal (IreV) will be deployed for the conduct of the 2023 general election. We will continue to use technology to improve and enhance the credibility of elections in Nigeria. Our goal is electoral justice where every Nigerian will experience electoral fulfilment”.
In his welcome address, Lagos State Resident Electoral Commissioner ( REC),Segun Agbaje and host of the event declared that the media has supreme call and duty to mobilize, sensitize and enlighten the electorate on all electoral processes by educating them on their responsibilities to perform their civic roles to vote for any candidate of their choice in all elective posts; address the issue of voter apathy and poor voter turnout in elections in Nigeria by rallying the electorate to perform their civic responsibilities.
