Pulse.ng : GPF inuagurates committee to prevent electoral violence in Kaduna State

By Mohammed Tijjani

The Global Peace Foundation Nigeria (GPF), on Thursday inaugurated the Kaduna State Peace and Meditation Committee on Electoral Violence.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)report that the 22-member committee has traditional and religious leaders, Civil Society Organisations, veteran journalists and retired military personnel as members.

Others are representatives of Policy, Research, Peace and Conflict Institutes, Electoral Management Bodies and Security Agencies.

The initiative was sponsored by Kimpact Development Initiative with the support of International Republican Institute .

The GPF Country Director, Rev. John Hayab, who inaugurated the committee, said their role was to identify and mitigate triggers to electoral violence in the state.

He said that the initiative was to stop the kind of violence that characterised elections in the state and “the sad history of massive losses” recorded in the past due to election violence.

“While the long-awaited 2023 general election is here, what is essential is for us to swing into action towards ensuring all forms of electoral violence are mitigated in Kaduna state and beyond.

“Sadly, electoral violence as records have shown, has increased in Nigeria with twice as many elections-related fatalities in 2022 compared to 2019.

“Without being pessimistic, the record of cases of attacks on security and INEC facilities in some parts of the country, a manifestation of election-related violence, appears to be on the path to overtaking the heights electoral violence has reached and needs to be stopped.

“It is, therefore, rational that we join hands with intensive efforts to halt electoral violence in the 2023 elections in whatever form it appears,” Hayab said.

He added that electoral violence was an issue of grave concern to every well-meaning and peace-loving Nigerian, as such efforts should be made to address the problem.

“Election violence is potent with colossal impact with a high propensity to take diverse forms, spread and escalate beyond politics.

“It is known to deepen ethnic, religious and regional grievances thereby setting the stage for more conflicts, if not allayed.

“This is why we must not relent in our efforts to stop violence associated with elections.”

According to him, the increase in voter registration is indicative of the growing interest in electoral participation, particularly by the young “who are regrettably the chief weapons often engaged to commit electoral violence”

“The growing number of youth without jobs and the current hardship faced in the nation are other causes for concern as the election approaches.

“As key stakeholders, it is expected that our joint engagements will be a key tool to anticipate, prevent and mitigate electoral violence in the state.

“Our focus is on the security of the environment, looking out for incidents and early warning indicators that could tell us where risks of electoral violence heighten within the state and how to tackle them,” Hayab said.

He urged the committee members to be dedicated in confronting the enormous and complex task ahead.

NAN report that Alhaji Zubairu AbdulRa’uf and Rev. Bitrus Dangiwa will serve as Co-Chairmen of the committee.

Dangiwa who spoke on behalf of the committee, said they will collaborate with major stakeholders to ensure violence-free elections in Kaduna state.

“We will use media houses to calm the nerves of politicians during and after the elections, for peace to reign.

“We must coexist together after election, so election is not a do or die affair; the committee will also try and see that hate speech is discouraged,” the chairman said.

He called on voters not to sale their votes, and ensure that they utilise the opportunity to vote in people with credibility and integrity.(NAN)