As the nation approaches the end of campaigns and prepares for the forthcoming general elections, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission has called on all candidates and political parties in Nigeria, especially in the South East and South-South geological zones to embrace peace and work towards the credible outcome of 2023 elections in Nigeria.

Dr. Onyinye Onwuka, the Head of Mediation and Coordination of Regional Political Affairs (MCRA), ECOWAS Commission, made this appeal on Wednesday in Owerri at the Mediation and Dialogue training for political actors in South East and South South Zones, in collaboration with the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) and other stakeholders.

Onwuka who spoke on behalf of the President of the Commission, Amb. Omar Alieu Touray; and the Commissioner – Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah, at the fourth and final of the series of training and interactive engagements, also tasked the political actors to renew their commitments to upholding the contents of the signed Peace Accord and the Electoral Act and Guidelines.

Onwuka also professed the preparedness of the ECOWAS Commission to sustain her partnership with relevant stakeholders in ensuring the prevention of election-related conflicts and violence.

In the same vein, the National Chairman of IPAC, Engr. Yabagi Sani, agreed with the ECOWAS Commission on the importance of Nigeria to West Africa, and the entire world, noting that all Africans and the world look up to Nigeria to deliver a peaceful, free, fair, transparent, and credible election.

“So like I said, this training is very timely and appropriate too, to prepare various political parties and key players in the exercise of the 2023 elections on the need to always go the way of peace through dialogue. This is because once we can communicate, you find out that problems are largely solved,” he stressed.

He assured that the participants who are mostly political actors would internalize the essence of the training and work towards free, fair, and credible polls in the country.

On his part, the Head of the Department of Election and Party Monitoring (EPM), Mr. Victor O. Nwokeabia, who represented the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Imo state, Prof. Sylvia Uchenna Agu, described the program as fundamentally crucial to the in-coming election, noting that no meaningful election could take place in an environment prone to violence.

“I believe that after this event, you will all go home, and inform your candidates and members of your political parties on the importance of Alternative Dispute Resolution”.

Nwokeabia assured that INEC was ready to conduct a violent-free election, assuring that it would no longer be business as usual with BVAS.

Also speaking, the commissioner of police in Imo State – CP Mohammed Barde who spoke through CSP Mike Abattam assured that the security agencies would leave no stone unturned to contribute their quota for a credible election.

He, however, pleaded with the media for accurate, objective, and unbiased reportage of the election.

“As we prepare for the polls, there must be information flow by the media during the pre-election, election itself, and post-election”.

• PHOTO: CSP Mike Abattam representing Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command; Representative of Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Imo State, Barr. Victor. O. Nwokeabia; Head of Mediation and Coordination of Regional Political Affairs (MCRA), ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Onyinye Onwuka; and Organising Secretary, Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Comrade Wale Martins, at the Mediation and Dialogue training for political actors in South East and South South Zones in Owerri on Wednesday, February 01, 2023