A network of civil society organizations called West Africa Democracy Solidarity (WADEMOS) has encouraged the Nigerian government to avoid the inclination to take advantage of incumbency throughout the election-related procedures.
It, according to the Organization, would aid in preventing violence at the elections on February 25. According to a statement released during a delegation from the network’s trip to Nigeria and forwarded to the Ghana News Agency, the government should ensure that more women participate in politics and government by implementing affirmative action laws and programs.
According to the statement, the Nigerian government must increase fuel supply to lessen the potential impact of the present shortages on the election.
“This has the tendency of increasing voter apathy and turnout, particularly for voters who will travel long distances to their polling stations.”
“Again, it has implications for the movement of security personnel and patrol teams that will be deployed to provide security for the election.”
The sanctity and integrity of the electoral process must be ensured and guaranteed by political leaders and parties while they conduct their campaigns, it was stated.
It stated that in order to mobilize and canvass the votes of their supporters, political parties and their candidates must abstain from violence and all other forms of incitement.
The statement noted that because Nigeria is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious nation, religious and traditional leaders must use their platforms to promote nonviolent messages of good behaviour and nonviolence, which are necessary for calm and incident-free elections.
“Again, we urge them to support local interventions aimed at resolving potential violence to reduce and calm tension.”
It made an appeal to CSOs to work together both internally and with state institutions to promote inclusion and participation during the elections while advocating for a free, open, and peaceful process.
It urged the media to be politically agnostic and on high alert for false information, especially on election day, and to report with consideration for the election’s sensitive issues.
Before during, and after the election, political parties were urged to uphold the peace agreement’s obligations, and the media was urged to demand accountability for the agreement’s execution.
Dr Kojo Pumpuni Asante, Director of Advocacy and Policy Engagement, CDD-Ghana, and Head of Secretariat, West Africa Election Observation Network (WAEON), and Bernadette French, Regional Coordinator, National Election Watch, Sierra Leone, jointly led the delegation, which was made up of chosen members of the West Africa Democracy Solidarity Network.
Additional participants included Dr Bridget Osakwe, National Coordinator, WANEP-Nigeria, Kop’ep Dabugat, Network Coordinator for WADEMOS, Ibar Sarr, Director General of Rencontre Africaine pour la Défense des Droits de l’Homme Senegal, and Mawusi Yaw Dumenu, Coordinator, WAEON.
Matthias Yeanay, the Institute for Research and Democratic Development’s executive director, and Aissata Bocoum, a Mali native, make up the remaining group.
35 civil society organizations from 15 West African nations make up the transnational democracy solidarity network known as the WADEMOS Network, which is non-partisan and autonomous.
It aspires to organise, coordinate, and utilize the combined power of civil society and other pro-democracy actors, resources, and opportunities within the West African Area to advance, defend, and renew democracy and promote its norms.