2023 Election: CSO Holds Stakeholders' Meeting on Violence-Free Election

Nasir Shuaibu, BAUCHI

A nongovernmental organization under the auspices of the Executive Directors (EDs) forum has organized a stakeholders' meeting for Violence-Free  elections in the State. 

Chairman of the Forum, Sodandi Chindo stated that the meeting aimed to have a round table discussion between all the stakeholders and brainstorm on issues of free, fair and credible elections in the State. 

He noted that what the State and the Nation need in this very crucial time is to have a free and fair conduct of elections without any violence or crisis. 

According to Sodangi, the meeting has provided an avenue where the Forum interacted with community leaders to get an idea of what is happening, so that the security would also give information to the community to collectively avert the looming violence.

While expressing satisfaction with the responses from the stakeholders, Sodangi described the interaction during the meeting as a very qualitative one, adding that it was opened, from the side of the community to the security agencies.

According to the chairman, the forum meeting is also targeting the youth who were the most vulnerable group in society to educate and enlighten them on the danger of engaging in political thuggery. 

He calls on the politicians to play the game according to the electoral laws and accept the outcome of the election results in good faith. 

Solange, however calls on the parents to cushion their wards (children) against involving in political violence and thuggery during and after the elections. 

One of the facilitators, Dr Musa Wunti of the faculty of political science, at Bauchi State University Gadau, emphasizes the need for all stakeholders to join hands together to ensure that the election is free, fair and credible, and acceptable in the State and the country at large. 

Others who spoke during the discussion were the representatives of various security agencies, traditional leaders, religious leaders, and youth and women groups. 

Our correspondent reports that some of the stakeholders that graced the meeting were community leaders, youth leaders, women leaders, and security agencies.