Ensuring Votes Count in 2023 Gubernatorial Elections: TMG Hold Peace Rally

By Isaac Eranga

Benin City: The Transition Monitory Group (TMG) has called on Nigerians to do away with thuggery and all forms of electoral violence, so as to ensure that votes in the coming Governorship and States House of Assemblies elections, count. According to TMG, this will help avert electoral violence capable of brewing crisis in the polity.

Speaking at the end of a peace rally held recently in Benin City, the Edo State Coordinators of TMG- Comr. Kingsley Kefe called on all stakeholders in the electoral process, including the electorates, to discourage the spread of fake news capable of misinforming the people, and discourage thuggery, snatching of baliot boxes.  

Comr. Kingsley Kefe, said it was quite disturbing that despite the signing of the peace accords by candidates of the political parties competing in the elections, wherein they committed the support that will ensure a peaceful transition, pre-election violence did continue to bedevil the country. He added that among other conflicts were the attacks on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) offices which could undermine the electoral processes. He also said report had it that in some elecctoral violence was at the extreme, 15 lives were lost amongst other forms of violence that took place.

"It is important to note here that according to the available States of the country like Kano, Enugu amd Ebony where electoral document by INEC, there are 93.4 million registered voters and 9.5 million voters were registered ahead of the 2023 elections of which two-third were young persons and 47.5% women. This marked 11.3% increase from the voters' record of 2019.

"Edo chaptet of the TMG is using this platform to Call on all stakeholders to intervene proactively to calm the already heated polity to avoid further form of violence especially as March 18th, 2023 day for governorship and states Houses of Assembly elections.

"However, TMG advocates that to strengthen the electoral process, the federal government should uphold the rule of law throughout the process, that is, pre, during, and post elections and implement the 35% affirmative action in the electoral system for women and also enshrine 20% for persons living with disabilities. Such will allow for inclusive approach to the democratic system.

"The INEC should review and strengthen their logistics operational strategy to ensure that the ad-hoc officials are adequately trained for mastering the electronic voting machines and its optimal effectiveness throughout the voting period.

"Timely deployment of electoral materials to designated polling units is another key to effective elections and the designated time of 8:30am to 2:30pm should be reviewed. It will encourage greater participation and address the issue of disenfranchisement. The number of the BVAS machines should be regulated at each polling unit should match the number of voters. This will go a long way to reduce all forms of suspicion amongst all the key stakeholders including voters, he said".

The TMG also called on all the youth to embrace peace at all times, saying there is no where violence has done any nation good. "Citizens, contestants and their supporters should be able to control their emotions and use peaceful ways to drive home their grievances without resorting to killings, maiming or destroy in of properties.