INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu,
The Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC) of Port Harcourt Catholic Diocese, and the Catholic Caritas Foundation of Nigeria (CCFN), a non-governmental organization (NGO), have promised that the upcoming 2023 general elections would be one of the best in the annals of party elections in the country.
The two groups made the assertion at an election stakeholders seminar recently held at the Corpust Christ Cathedral, Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital.
Addressing Journalists at the sideline of the event, Mr. Marcel Azeki, Director Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC), Port Harcourt Catholic Diocese, explained that the essence of the event was to canvass for the conduct of not just credible, but also non-violent elections.
“This programme is meant to strengthen actions and leadership towards the 2023 general elections in Nigeria,” he said.
Mr. Azeki presented a paper during the seminar on “Non-violence approaches to electoral participation for youths and women leaders,” while the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and National Orientation Agency (NOA) also presented papers bordering on sensitizing the people to be part of the 2023 general elections.
The INEC Rivers state Public Affairs Officer, Geraldine Ekelemu, in her paper on the “theory and practice of elections observation/monitoring, roles and responsibilities of elections on the organizers”, described the election sensitization as timely.
“I commend Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC) for organizing this programme, thanks to Catholic Caritas Foundation of Nigeria for been behind this. The sensitization is very timely the content is quite rich, we should know our roles as voters and as election observers,” she said.
“ Security agencies, community leaders market and women leaders, and religious bodies were adequately represented. We cannot stop this advocacy. When we have engagements like this, it arms people to mobilize in their communities and their various corners.
“It helps every one to understand what is expected of them as we go into the 2023 elections. The gathering today is worth the time. INEC is fully engaged in this kind of sensitization, to make sure that not just people participate in election, but to know what is expected of them before during and post election period” Ekelemu said further.
Mr. Chinwe Opara, Head of Department programme, NOA Rivers state who represented Young Ayo Tamuno Esq, Director National Orientation Agency Rivers State, while responding to question from Journalists expressed delight that the outcome of the seminar will help to sensitize the public on the 2023 general electio
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