2023 Polls: Youth Group Condemns Attacks On INEC Facilities
Catch Them Young Community Initiative, a Non Governmental Organisation, has expressed worries over the growing cases of violent attack on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) facilities across the country.
The group made the csll in a statement made available to journalists in Awka on Thursday.
Mr Nonso Orakwe the Executive Director of the group who signed the statement urged Nigerians to work together for the collective good of the Nation.
He said there was an increase in the rate of violence in Nigeria and South East in particular adding that insecurity was taking an ugly toll on the region in the forms of attacks, kidnapping, arson and death.
The group said the development posed danger to the successful conduct of the 2023 general election approaches.
“It is therefore pertinent that we do our part as indigenes and stakeholders to shun every form of violence and desist from speeches and actions that could heat up the polity and increase violence in our land.”
“We have witnessed kidnapping, and assassination of politicians in Anambra, Enugu and Imo state.
“As the 2023 General election approaches, it is essential that the people of Southeast bolster efforts to reclaim the peace and unity we are known for and make bigger efforts to join in the election by collecting our PVC,” he said.
Orakwe noted that there had been various elections in the past marred by election related violence but were preventable.
He said as campaigns had started in the South east, the group was calling on political parties to ensure that their candidates campaigned on issues devoid of hate speech and with no inciting statements that could trigger violence.
“We encourage vulnerable groups like youth, women and Persons With Disability to join the electoral processes which would enhance inclusiveness for national growth and development.
“We stand against all forms of violence and encourage the youth to shun violence as well as all electoral malpractices.
“While we condemn attacks on INEC facilities, we call security agencies and all electoral stakeholders to support Nigeria democratic processes by ensuring free, fair and credible general election in 2023,” he stated.
Catch Them Young Community Initiative is also the convener of Vote Not to Fight Campaigns in the south East
