Voters Awareness Initiative (VAI), an Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) accredited observer organization for the 2023 general elections has called on Nigerians to come out enmasse on Saturday to exercise their franchise for candidates of their choice in the gubernatorial and state houses of assembly elections in a peaceful and orderly manner.
According to a statement signed by the group’s President Wale Ogunade and the Director, Media and Mobilization Nelson Ekujumi, on Tuesday in Lagos, VAI called on “INEC the electoral umpire to remain focused and committed to upholding the provisions of the electoral Act by ensuring that the conduct of the 11th March 2023 gubernatorial and states houses of assembly elections does not fall below the high standards set by it’s successful and credible conduct of the presidential and national assembly elections of 25th February 2023 which has been applauded by both local and international observers”.
The group also commended “Forthright local and international observers for their objective and unbiased observations of the 25th February 2023 elections and charged them not to succumb to mischief and orchestrated campaign of blackmail and calumny, but to do same objectively for the 11th March 2023 elections in order to deepen Nigeria’s democracy”.
The group enjoined the media to be responsible and responsive to the tenets of journalism in their reportage and coverage of the elections as critical stakeholders in sustaining Nigeria’s democracy for the collective good.
Voters Awareness Initiative charged the security agencies to remain professional and neutral in the discharge of their functions for another round of peaceful, successful and credible elections on 11th March 2023.
The political parties were advised to educate their members to keep the peace before, during and after the elections. Party agents were admonished to be peaceful and orderly on election day as their own contribution to a successful election.
Voters Awareness Initiative (VAI) used the occasion of the statement to wish Nigerians another round of a peaceful, successful and credible elections just as it enjoined them to remain calm, peaceful and orderly and refuse to be incited by fake news, falsehood and misinformation as they exercise their franchise on election day and beyond.
