TMG plans charter of demands for candidates in Gombe
•Group cautions against vote buying, hate speech
Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) in Gombe State has disclosed plans to develop charter of demands for candidates in the upcoming general elections.
Chairman of the forum, Ibrahim Yusuf, disclosed this while briefing journalists in Gombe.
He said the move is to strengthen accountability and make elected representatives to be more responsible to the electorate.
Yusuf, who also the Chairman, Civil Society Organisation (CSOs) in the state, said the TMG would collaborate with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Association of NGOs and MNHC Coalition to develop the charter.
He faulted the culture of parties and candidates development of manifestos without consulting the electorate for their input.
According to him, majority of Gombe electorate were unaware of the content of their candidates’ agenda.
The chairman added that this innovative collaboration was geared towards ensuring that Nigerians derive the much-needed dividends of democracy.
This, he, said was only possible by advocating a change in electioneering processes, consultations and practices.
He appealed to aspiring politicians to cooperate with the CSOs in setting the agenda in Gombe State.
Also, Chairman of the Gombe State chapter of the NUJ, Saidu Malala, said journalists in the state has a duty to bring the government to account, adding that the dividends of democracy were everyone’s business.
Get the latest news delivered straight to your inbox every day of the week. Stay informed with the Guardian’s leading coverage of Nigerian and world news, business, technology and sports.
0 Comments
We will review and take appropriate action.