NILD FORUM: POLITICIANS ADVISED TO UPHOLD ISSUE BASED CAMPAIGN

Ahead of 2023 elections, stakeholders have charged candidates, parties and supporters to refrain from actions and utterances capable of disrupting peace and unity in the country.

They urged all political actors, especially presidential candidates, to focus on issue-based campaigns as the country draws closer to the electioneering season.

According to a statement by the media department of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), 

the views formed the basis of the high-level stakeholders’ forum organised by the organisation in partnership with The Kukah Foundation.

Issues comprehensively addressed at the forum are expected to culminate in a consensus by participants and in turn spur stakeholders to focus on the substantive issues facing Nigerians while centering election campaigns on robust debates about the competency and programmes of candidates.

Prof. Abubakar Olanrewaju Sulaiman informed that the Institute organised the forum to discuss the pertinent issues shaping political communication in Nigeria today; which is borne out of the conviction that better communication and negotiation can create harmony and more desirable outcomes in politics. 

“It is self-evident that the build-up to the 2023 general elections raises genuine concerns about the pattern of public communication among political actors, their publicity agents, and other related stakeholders, especially those actively engaged in media and communication. Experts have noted that communication by actors so far has been reactive and not based on a clear enunciation of party manifestoes, candidates’ programmes and strategies for actualising such programmes”, he noted.

In his comments, the President of the Senate, Sen. Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan told politicians to be conscious of their messages and focus on issue-based campaign that shuns violence and hate speech. He decried the extreme and prejudicial dimensions that political conversations had assumed in the last few weeks.

“Rather than emphasise discussion on policy positions to address many of the social and economic challenges we face, we are engaged in frivolous, illogical and sensational exchanges.

“For the first time since 1999, our campaigns have moved from substantive issues to inconsequential and sometimes vile vituperations.

“We have shifted our focus from the core issues of governance to irrelevant and frankly nonsensical attacks on the personalities of the various candidates.

“By so doing, we, the politicians, have once again distracted Nigerians from assessing those who seek political office based on the merit of their positions.”

Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, in his address, said: “Regrettably, some of the key provisions of the Electoral Act with regards to political campaigns, as well as the provisions in INEC’s Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections, are already being violated, particularly the use of intemperate, slanderous and base language, as well as insinuations or innuendoes that are clearly targeted at provoking violent reactions or emotions.”

“It is easy to hurl insults at opponents, but it takes discipline, focus and political maturity to make our campaigns issue-based. Yet, this is the least that we owe our citizens. It amounts to a great disservice and even a disconnect from the grim realities of Nigerians’ challenges, focusing on frivolous and inconsequential issues.”

Most Reverend Kukah noted: “Our diversity as a people has not been well managed. Politicians must answer questions on what they want to be known for. Nigeria has produced some very dramatic politicians. Politicians and candidates, beyond telling us about fighting corruption, must come up with pragmatic solutions to our problems.

He said that the issue which will form the basis for the next election must be outlined, adding that they should not be talking about Muslim-Muslim ticket or ethnicity.

“We’ve passed the Electoral Bill. That’s just the beginning. We need to convince Nigerians that their votes will count. You can tell Nigerians about the Electoral Act. But they need to be sure. We do not need a messiah as Nigeria’s next president,” Kukah stressed.

Former chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof Attahiru Jega lamented that politicians do not match their words with actions.

He said that politicians need to back up their promises with actions to put the country on the right part where it can progress.