The Resident Electoral Commisioner (REC), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in charge of Kwara state, Mallam Attahiru Madami, Wednesday January 11, 2023 declared that this year’s general elections will hold as planned.
He allayed the fears of Nigerians concerning the 2023 polls, even as he charged them to be responsible and avoid violence to ensure peaceful exercise.
Madami made this declaration while speaking at the 2023 annual lecture of the National League of Veteran Journalists (NALVEJ), Kwara state council in Ilorin, the state capital.
The REC, who said that the commission was prepared to sustain peaceful conduct of elections in the state, added that Kwara had been recognised for achieving peaceful conduct of elections over the years, especially in 2019.
While assuring the political parties of unbiased process in the elections in the state, Madami said that one of the reasons for violence during any election is when the umpire is biased.
He also identified presence of adequate security; involving all law enforcement agencies, as measures to achieve peaceful conduct of the elections.
“Let’s sustain the peace in the state. Elections can be violent when the umpire is biased. Adequate security should be provided and be civil.
INEC has assured that election will hold despite the doubts by some Nigerians. Youths should be admonished to shun violence. Women should do that, especially mothers. We should all preach unity. Violence will take us no where,” he said.
The state governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who was represented by his special adviser on Strategy, Alhaji Saadu Salahu, restated his administration’s continued support for the media, serving and retired in the state.
He said his administration was committed to peaceful coexistence of the people of the state, adding that Kwara remained one of the most secured states in the country as attested to by the Inspector General of Police during his recent visit to the state.
The governor highlighted the achievements of his administration in health, education, road infrastructure and civil service sectors, adding that efforts were being intensified to industrialise the state and ensure regular electricity supply.
The event was attended by frontline traditional rulers, state FRSC commandant, state NSCDC commandant, Police command commissioner, state director of National Orientation Agency (NOA) federal commissioner of National Population Commission (NPC), Alhaji Razak Gidado, special assistant on Religion, Alhaji Ibrahim Danmaigoro, former grand Kadi, Justice Salihu Mohammed, chairman Kwara NUJ AbdulLateef Ahmed and media executive amongst others.
