The Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has expressed concern over rising tension and election-related violence in several states across the country ahead of the March 18 governorship polls.
In a statement issued by CAPPA’s Director of Programmes, Philip Jakpor, the group urged politicians to call their supporters to order and de-escalate the surging tension and violence.
The organization observed the rising use of hate speech, tribal and ethnic profiling, as well as the widespread circulation of fake news laced with inciting comments.
CAPPA’s Research and Policy Officer, Zikora Ibeh, noted that electoral violence not only undermines democracy but also perpetuates a culture of societal unrest and the exclusion of citizens from participating in governance processes.
She also called on politicians to act in manners that promote amity, engage their supporters in peaceful electoral processes and end all hateful rhetoric.
The group urged all relevant security agencies to closely monitor the ongoing electoral process and hold all purveyors of violence and political actors accountable for their actions to deter others.
CAPPA also called on the good people of Nigeria to rise above ethnic, religious, and other secondary emotions to participate in the democratic process and hold politicians accountable for their actions and promises.