By Mohammed Nasir Shuaibu (Bauchi State Correspondent)
A non-governmental organization, Centre for Community Actions for Peace and Development (CCAPAD) have called on citizens to demand for transparency and accountability from political officeholders to ensure accountability and responsive governance.
This was contained in a Communique issued at the end of a 3- day annual 2023 stakeholders workshop for Local Peace Team on Active Citizens /Group participation in Civic Responsibilities for Peaceful 2023 Elections in Nigeria.
According to CCAPAD in the communique jointly signed by Mal. Sani Yakubu, Coordinator and Dauda Salisu, Secretary respectively.
The communique said that electing individuals in any political office should be based on merit while Continuous sensitization using NGOs, Religious and government institutions on the need for fair elections should be encouraged.
It also recommended that vote buying and thuggery must be checked and sanctioned those involved while Freedom of expression should be respected by all the political actors.
They also resolved to encourage and educate Nigerians to know and defend their fundamental human rights as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution (1999) as amended and Build collaboration and deepen the relationship between the various religious Organizations in the State for the propagation of harmonious relationships in the State.
They also advocated for the conduct of free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria by INEC and respect for the rule of law by the politicians and citizens as well as Prevail on the youths not be used at any point by the politicians as their thugs for political thuggery and violence during elections.
NIGERIAN NEWSLEADER Newspaper Correspondent reports that the 3-day workshop was organized in partnership with Bread for The World Germany, on active citizens'/group participation in civic responsibilities for the conduct of peaceful 2023 elections in Nigeria.
Participants were drawn from CCAPAD local peace team Bauchi Central 1& 2, Ganjuwa Local peace team and CCAPAD staff Jos during which rigorous practical training on Democracy, Good Governance, Election Monitoring and Observation among other key deliverables were digested and participants had fairly good understandings of their approaches and utilities. NNL.