Elections: NCWS calls for peaceful conducts

5 years ago

Elections: NCWS calls for peaceful conducts

The National President, National Council of Women Societies, (NCWS), Mrs Gloria Shoda has called on Nigerians to conduct themselves in a peaceful manner during and after the forthcoming general elections.

Shoda made the called on Friday during the council’s first quarter National Executive Council meeting in Abuja.

The NCWS president emphasised the need for the electorate to bear in mind that a peaceful election was a huge determinant of the progress and development of any society.

According to her, Nigeria must decide on which angle of the two divides of destruction and building to adopt.

“As the general elections fast approach, it behooves on all of us to go about the process in a peaceful and just manner, and not allow ourselves to be part of any acts of violence or break down of law and order.

”A peaceful election is a huge element in the progress and development of any society and as stakeholders, we must decide within ourselves if we want to be nation builders or nation destroyers.

”Engaging in violence or hate speech or other unworthy behaviours within an election period has the capacity to tear a nation apart,” she said.

Shoda also appealed to women and fathers to prevail on their children and wards to shun acts that could set the country on the part of retrogression.

“We have everything to gain if we stay on the right course of peace and stability.

“do not let us cancel out the gains our great nation has made through a few immature act at this time.

“Violence against women during election is a well-known fact in this country.

“Women candidates, election officials, observers and voters alike are vulnerable to attacks during the period.

“We appeal to our security agencies to bear this in mind and do their best to prevent this from happening. Many of our women have suffered violence during elections and most of these cases go unreported.

”One which was highlighted was that of Madam Maimuna Joyce Katai, a serving commissioner in Nasarawa State who lost her life in a brutal manner during the 2003 elections,” she said.

The NCWS national president also cautioned election observers, especially those from the council, not to interfere in the process and take their safety into consideration in their activities.

She said that the role of observers was to “quietly observe and make their reports.”

Shoda expressed pleasure over the inclusion of Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, and Persons with Disabilities, PWDs, in the voting process by the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC).

She urged the commission to continue in its bid to ensure free, fair and credible elections in consideration of its guidelines as released in January.

Considering the security challenges facing the country so far, Shoda implored the federal government to continue to create an environment that would foster peace and security.

“We are not unaware of the security challenges in some parts of the north, and we commend our armed forces for their gallant services and urge them to continue unabated to ensure that Nigeria is free from terrorism and insurgency,” she said.

Shoda urges politicians and other stakeholders in the electoral process to remain above board, adding that they had a responsibility to caution their supporters against acts of intimidation, harassment, vote-buying or selling to ensure a transparent process.