CTA Organizes Meeting For Stakeholders Ahead of 2023 Elections

BY NAJIB SANI ADAMU

As part of its contribution to ensuring free, fair and peaceful elections in Nigeria, a Non Governmental Organization (NGO) ‘Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA) on Thursday organized a meeting for stakeholders from the north east where they discussed on conducting peaceful and credible elections.

The meeting was attended by representatives of various security agencies, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials, women, youths and the media organizations drawn from the north eastern states.

In her address, the executive director of the NGO Faith Nwadishi explained that CTA is an accredited domestic observer of election in Nigeria adding that the meeting with the stakeholders was part of their contributions towards having a free, fair and peaceful elections in the next couple of weeks.

She expressed satisfaction with the zeal shown by the citizens in the collection of voters’ cards but said there are reports that some politicians buy off voters cards from the citizens and asked the security agencies to investigate the matter.

The centre also charged political parties and candidates to respect the peace accords they signed to ensure peace prevails in the nation during and after the elections.

In their goodwill message, the Nigerian Correctional Service (NSC) has advocated voting rights for inmates at correctional centres saying they are currently disenfranchised in elections.

Gombe State comptroller of the service Lawal Idris Gusau represented by an assistant comptroller operations of the service John Zakka Dukwui, lamented that the Nigerian constitution does not recognize inmates as voters opining that people at correctional centres should be given opportunity to vote ‘because being there does not deprive them of citizenship.

He called for the amendment of the constitution and electoral act to recognize inmates as voters and make provision for them to vote at the correctional centres.

“If somebody is an inmate, that does not deprive him of his citizenship. If the constitution will be corrected, please let them involve inmates in voting. They are also having the right of citizenship”. He opined.

Also, the secretary of the Christians Association of Nigeria (CAN) Gombe State chapter Pastor Solomon Ayowale advised religious leaders to avoid endorsing candidates base on their faiths so that they will not overheat the polity