The Kaduna State Peace Commission in collaboration with the National Peace Committee (NPC), with support from the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), has engaged traditional rulers, religious leaders and chairmen of political parties in Kaduna State on deepening stakeholders’ participation towards ensuring a peaceful 2023 general elections in the State.
The Executive Vice Chairman of the Kaduna State Peace Commission, Dr. Saleh B. Momale, during a one-day event in Kaduna cautioned political parties, candidates and their supporters including youths against acts of aggression and hate speeches in all forms before, during and after the elections.
He also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to set in place mechanisms for effectively dealing with campaign and election misconducts following the dictates of the law.
He further called on the traditional and religious leaders to continue to admonish and caution candidates, political parties and the youths to ensure peaceful conduct at all times.
Deputy Special Representative of the UNOWAS, Ms. Giovanie Biha, in her remark, said that the presence of the high-level traditional, religious and political party leaders at the event showed collective resolve to enhance sustainable peace, security, and development in Kaduna State and Nigeria in general.
She said the event was timely as it comes 85 days from the start of the 2023 elections as it provided the stakeholders the opportunity to amplify their commitment to peace and agree on more practical ways of addressing threats that may undermine a peaceful electoral process in Kaduna State.
“We are confident that stakeholders in Kaduna State will once again rise to the occasion and deliver peaceful 2023 general elections which is crucial for sustainable peace, security, and development of this State”.
Chairman of NPC and former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar (rtd), who was represented at the high-level engagement by the Head of Secretariat, Father Atta Bakindo, reiterated the commitment of the committee towards peaceful conduct of elections in 2023.
According to him, “we are open and ready to collaborate with Kaduna State Peace Commission, political parties and their candidates in peace business to deepen democratic process here in Kaduna and the country at large.
“For example, we did that during the administration of former president Goodluck Jonathan in 2015. We repeated the same in 2019.
“We will be going to several states like we are doing here today to call for peace especially to remind the politicians of the need to deepen democracy,” he said.
The Emir of Zazzau, Amb. Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, said: “We want peace before, during and after these elections and that is why we need to be watchful of signs of crisis
