S’East monarchs, clerics seek peaceful, free, fair general elections
2023 Elections.
Joint Body of South East Council of Traditional Rulers, representatives of Igbo Archbishops and Bishops on Peace and Conflict Resolution (Joint Body) have implored federal, state governments and Nigerians to ensure elections take place in free, fair and transparent atmosphere.
This, according to the body, will eliminate or minimise post-election disputes and enable the winners to gain the immediate support of the electorate in addressing the numerous socio-economic challenges that citizens and the country face.
This is contained in a communiqué jointly signed, yesterday, by the Chairman, Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council, Obi Nnaemeka Achebe; Methodist Archbishop of Umuahia, Dr. Chibuzo Opoko; Chairman, Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council, Igwe Lawrence Agubuzo, and Catholic Archbishop of Onitsha, Most Rev. Valerian Okeke.
The Joint Body said it is probably the most perilous times for the country since the civil war, with myriad of challenges, ranging from insecurity, faltering economy and fiscal insolvency, mounting youth unemployment, widespread corruption and growing despair to the trauma from the combined effects of run-away inflation, poorly managed currency exchange exercise and unabating fuel scarcity and black market price hikes.
According to the body, many pundits have projected that coming elections, if properly conducted, could pave the way for good governance in the country.
The joint body, while listing imperatives for orderly general elections, called on registered voters to exercise their constitutional rights and responsibilities without fear or favour.
The body urged the electorate to resist any intimidation or efforts to compromise their conscience with cheap financial or material gestures that could provide momentary comfort, but impoverish and compromise them for four years or longer through bad governance.
The body also called on leaders of all political parties and their candidates to remind their supporters, stakeholders, and party faithful to commit unequivocally to non-violence and maintenance of peace during the elections and beyond.
The body also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to rise to its statutory mandate in delivering a flawless election with all the technology and human capacity at its disposal.
The body further advised INEC to devise simple and handy instructions for first-time voters to ensure their votes would not be invalidated.
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