INEC ACCREDITED OBSERVER GROUP CALLS ON NIGERIANS TO COME OUT AND VOTE AS IT DEMANDS A FREE, FAIR AND CREDIBLE 2023 GENERAL ELECTIONS
A INEC accredited observer civil society organization, Voters Awareness Initiative (VAI) has called on all eligible voters to come out and vote for candidates of their choice in a peaceful and orderly manner as Nigerians go to the polls on Saturday 25th February 2023 in the presidential and national assembly elections.
The group issued this statement today 23rd February 2023 through its president Barrister Wale Ogunade Esq, by admonishing “Nigerians to take their political destiny in their hands by voting for candidates based on their pedigree and manifesto of seeking to better the lives of the people”.
According to Mr. Ogunade, “Voters Awareness Initiative (VAI) is one of the several organizations accredited by INEC to observe the 2023 general elections and is determined to perform this societal responsibility through the deployment of its personnel to polling stations across the 36 states of the federation including the federal capital territory Abuja on Election Day”.
The group used the occasion of the press statement, to call on eligible voters to come out enmasse and vote peacefully and orderly in order to deepen our democracy.
Voters Awareness Initiative called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remain focused and committed to conducting a free, fair and credible election for which its capacity as demonstrated in recent off season’s election in Ekiti and Osun state is a testimonial. The group admonished the electoral body not to be distracted by the campaign of blackmail and calumny from anti-democratic elements meant to undermine and discredit the credibility of our electoral process in which tremendous progress have been achieved over the years and must be sustained and built upon.
Security agencies were also called upon to continue to remain professional and dedicated to the service to fatherland in the discharge of their election responsibilities which is not in doubt.
However, (VAI) used the opportunity of the press statement to alert of the threat of fake news to incite and disrupt the elections by anti-democratic elements and called on the security agencies to apply the full weight of the law to deal with any such threat appropriately.
Local and internationally accredited observer groups were equally charged to perform their roles in line with the dictates of global best practices in the long term interest of Nigeria’s democracy.
The media were as well admonished to be professional and objective in their reportage and coverage as their contribution to deepening Nigeria’s democracy.
Accredited party agents were urged to play according to the rules of engagement in the exercise of their functions on Election Day, by not being overzealous to engage in acts that will threaten the peaceful and orderly conduct of the election.
According to (VAI) as we look forward to the conduct and outcome of the elections, Voters Awareness Initiative wished Nigerians, a free, fair, credible and successful election which is a collective responsibility.
Thanks.
Yours Sincerely,
Wale Ogunade Esq.
President.
