National Peace Committee Officials in Nigeria Concerned about Violent Election Campaigns

Members of the committee that brings together faith leaders, politicians and Nigeria’s business community call upon political candidates and their respective political parties to honor the NPC Peace Accord, which they signed in September. 

By appending their signatures to the Peace Accord, politicians pledged to carry out peaceful campaigns, they say, adding, “The political actors cannot pretend to be oblivious of the content of the Peace Accord that they signed. Nigerians expect that as men and women of honor, they are committed to keeping their words.”

NPC members call on security forces in the West African nation to ensure “the right environment is created for peaceful elections.”

“We call on the law enforcement agencies to enforce the law with the understanding that everyone will be held accountable for their actions, no matter their status,” they say.

Members of Nigeria’s NPC also urge citizens of Africa’s most populous nation to be prudent when circulating information through various media channels.

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“Citizens must be more discreet in the kind of information that they circulate on various platforms. Individuals must take responsibility for what they read,” they further caution, and add, “We encourage the Youth to be more restrained and to use their numbers well so as to guard their future.”

They urge the federal and state governments to give all political candidates equal access to public facilities throughout the campaign period. 

 “Access to federal or state facilities must be open to all candidates as long as they meet their financial and other commitments to using the facilities,” they say, and add, “It is morally wrong to abuse the power of incumbency by subverting the efforts of those who are in opposition to the status quo.”

The members of the Peace Council in Nigeria continue, “Parties and citizens do not lose their rights because they are opposed to the party in power. All citizens are above political parties.”

They urge Nigerians to “appreciate the huge resources committed to elections and do everything possible to ensure its integrity.”