Less than 12 hours to the long awaited general elections in Nigeria, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), has charged politicians and their supporters to explore the legitimate channels to ventilate their misgivings, before, during and after the 2023 general elections, to prevent avoidable electoral violence.
ECOWAS Commission, in a statement on Friday evening, also, decried the high deployment of fake news, ahead of the 25th February, scheduled election.
To this end, the Commission encourages the political parties and their leaders to accept the eventual outcome of the polls as will be announced by INEC.
The multilateral institution, however, urged any aggrieved parties to seek redress through laid down rules and regulations governing the electoral process.
He statement reads: “On the eve of the historic 2023 General elections, the Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), addresses this solidarity message to the government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The ECOWAS Commission is acutely aware of the strategic importance of the 25th February, 2023 presidential election to the region and the African continent at large”.
The ECOWAS Commission commends President Muhammadu Buhari, for his unrelenting efforts to ensure smooth, free, fair, transparent and credible elections.
ECOWAS Commission notes the commendable work so far accomplished by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to prepare the electoral machinery for a hitchfree conduct of the polls.
While noting the highly competitive and tensed nature of the electoral campaigns, the Commission commends the leaders of all the political parties and their followers for ensuring a relatively peaceful environment for the electoral process.
The Commission, further commended them for subscribing to the first and second Peace Accord, facilitated by the National Peace Committee.
ECOWAS, decried, the incidents of fake news, dis-information, misinformation and incitement on social media.
The regional block, urged the political parties and their leaders to caution their followers against any acts or pronouncements liable to endanger the peaceful conduct of the elections
ECOWAS urges the electorate to conduct themselves with maturity and a sense of patriotism on election day.
In conclusion, ECOWAS urged the security services to secure the environment for peaceful polls, while maintaining their neutrality.
