A coalition of 70 civil society organizations, CSOs, on Friday urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to maintain its impartiality with less than 24 hours till the presidential and national assembly elections.
In their preliminary statement on the pre-election climate ahead of the upcoming general elections, the groups, operating under the auspices of the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, argued that INEC must keep an eye on the activities of its officials in order to ensure that the electoral process is fair and credible.
It bemoaned the reports of security issues, violent crimes, and political unrest in the last hours before the polls, particularly in the South East, North West, and Lagos.
“Fuel shortages and bank lines persist with just a few hours till the polls, escalating the already tense situation.
“The Situation Room is aware that as the electoral process moves forward, some areas in Lagos State may end up being flashpoints.
Situation Room believes that in light of these, it is essential for security agencies, particularly the Nigeria Police and the State, to prioritize establishing a secure environment for people to exercise their right to vote.
Situation Room vehemently condemns the killings and other acts of election violence, and it calls on the authorities to put a stop to additional violence in order to foster conditions that would allow for free, peaceful, and fair elections.
In order to achieve a secure and peaceful election, it is crucial that the Nigerian Police and other security agencies protect civilians, keep vigilant against election violence, address vote-buying, and collaborate with stakeholders.
The Situation Room urges all individuals and political parties to act peacefully and to deter their followers from using violence.
There will be repercussions for breaking the Peace Accord in accordance with the requirements of the Election Act 2022, thus candidates and parties must have a moral and legal commitment to do so.
Prior to the 2023 General Election, “The Situation Room remains committed to continuing to give evaluation of the situation.
The statement, which was signed by the CSO conveners Ene Obi, Asma’u Joda, and James Ugochukwu, further said, “Situation Room is closely watching and will keep receiving reports of incidence on our contact details.”
The Policy and Legal Advocacy Center (PLAC), CLEEN Foundation, Action Aid Nigeria, Center for Democracy and Development, Center for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD), Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Center (RULAAC), CISLAC, The Albino Foundation, Yiaga Africa, and Electoral Hub are members of the Situation Room, a coalition of CSOs working to support credible and transparent elections in the nation.
