The Electoral Hub has advocated that the campaign for the 2023 elections, which commenced with those for the national elections last Wednesday, should be issue-focused, inclusive and policy based.
The organisation, which is committed to strengthening electoral governance and accountability in Nigeria, is an affiliate of the Initiative for Research, Innovation and Advocacy in Development (IRIAD). It essentially aims at enhancing electoral integrity and credibility through research, documentation, policy and law influencing, electoral education and impact advocacy.
In a statement by IRIAD Director for The Electoral Hub, Princess Hamman-Obels, the group observed that the Nigerian political scene is coming of age and should reflect that progress in character and process of campaigns, particularly considering the ethnic, and religious fault lines in the country.
“As the campaign begins, we call on political parties and candidates to jettison mudslinging and ethnoreligious campaigns and focus on issues critical to our common patrimony”.
The Electoral Hub reminded politicians and other stakeholders in the electoral process that the law spells out penalties for electoral offences. “Section 97 of the Electoral Act stipulates that anybody or association that engages in campaigning or broadcast based on religion, tribal or sectional reasons for the purpose of promoting or opposing a particular candidate or party commits an offence and is liable to conviction”, the statement said.
It therefore urged electoral stakeholders, particularly candidates and their political parties to comply with all legal provisions in relation to campaigns; focus on and conduct policy-based campaigns targeting real pertinent issues bedevilling the country such as wealth creation and distribution, securing lives and property, among others; ensure messages are inclusive, not inciting, peaceful, and policy-based; and be transparent and accountable in their spending as provided by the law.
The Electoral Hub encouraged the media to encourage policy-based campaigns, and discourage personal attacks, polarising and hate speeches; focus more on policy-based campaigns from candidates and parties; and sensitise the public on a violence-free campaign.
It also has tasks for anticorruption and accountability agencies or bodies, which include the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).
The Electoral Hub advised that the EFCC and the ICPC should be fully involved in the campaigning period, effectively monitor and track campaign spending, while both agencies should work with the Police to arrest and prosecute electoral offenders.
For the NHRC, the group urged that it should monitor, track, and sanction human rights violations, while the NBC should monitor adverts and hate speech and provide necessary sanctions, were necessary.
It urged the banks should track illicit funds and report them appropriately to Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit.
The Electoral Hub asked the Civil Society Organisations to advocate for violence-free and policy-based campaigns; track and monitor campaign; and monitor misinformation, disinformation, and hate speech and report offenders accordingly.
For the electorate, The Electoral Hub encouraged them to shun every form of violence; detest inciting violence and conflicts through hate speech and cyberbullying; and avoid spreading fake news.
On inclusive campaign, it said that the political process should incorporate women, youths, and Persons living With Disabilities (PWDs) in campaign consideration. This, it said, would not only help deepen our democracy but also ensure that political parties tap into these electoral bases.
The Electoral Hub made reference to the World Health Organisation (WHO), which puts the number of PWDs to constitute about 20 percent of the Nigerian population. But they have largely been excluded from the electoral process and campaigns in terms of participation and representation.
“Political parties need to develop a framework for the inclusion and engagement of all groups in our society. In line with The Electoral Hub’s commitments to promoting inclusion, we call for an inclusive campaign/manifesto by candidates as the importance of youths, PWDs, and women in politics cannot be overemphasised,” the statement read.
The general elections commence with the presidential and National Assembly poll on 25th February 2023, while those for the governorship and state assembly follow a fortnight later.
