The International Association of World Peace Advocates (IAWPA) has called for credible elections in Nigeria in order to get right leaders.
Spokesman for IAWPA, Emmanuel Nkweke, who made the call, said that development will be hard to achieve without the right leaders.
Calling for a robust system that engages all stakeholders in entrenching representative governance, Nkweke expressed optimism that Nigeria will regain its glory if its electoral processes and institutions were strengthened.
He said, ‘When this is done, it will deliver quality democracy that will benefit the citizens, but if this is not done, leadership will be defective’, he told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Nkweke urged Nigerians to embrace peace and unity, as dwelling on the past will hinder the nation from attaining a prosperous status.
‘Nigeria should strive to achieve set goals to progress. We cannot be counting years without anything to show for it. Many countries are leaving us behind. Nigeria must wake up’, he said.
Yiaga Africa, Centre for Liberty, NESSACTION, Raising New Voices Initiative and Millennials Active Citizenship Advocacy Africa recently called on the National Assembly to fulfil its promise of passing the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.
The CSOs stated that the National Assembly will be doing the nation a great service if it considers reforming the electoral law as a priority.
Although the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Senator Kabir Gaya, had in July, 2020, assured that the bill before the committee would be passed before the end of the year, the CSOs say the process has not received the urgency and the attention it deserves.
Through this review, Nigeria intends to reduce the cost of elections, ensure the deployment of effective election technology and include stringent punishment for violators of electoral laws.
Source: NAN
Photo source: Bureau of Global Public Affairs
