Some civil society groups and a popular Nigerian pop artist, 2face Idibia, have partnered with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for violence free elections in 2015.
The group, led by officials of the National Democratic Institute, visited the Chairman of INEC, Professor Atahiru Jega on Friday to unveil the ‘Vote Not Fight, Election No Be War’ campaign ahead of next year’s general elections.
According to the group, the Vote Not Fight campaign will target youths and politicians across the country, with special focus on areas with high records of electoral violence in the past.
Electoral violence has recurred in some parts of Nigeria since 1999, which explains why some citizens are already apprehensive ahead of the 2015 general elections.
The group of civil society organisations said they hope to reverse the ugly trend, by working with the INEC and Nigeria’s hip hop star, 2face Idibia by launching a violence free election campaign.
The senior Program Manager, National Democratic Institute, said the group hoped to sensitise Nigerian youths and politicians on the need to shun electoral violence ahead of 2015.
While regretting past actions of youths who engaged in political violence, Professor Jega said modalities put in place by INEC and the new partnership would ensure a peaceful elections next year.
The “Vote Not Fight Campaign” is an initiative targeting youths and politicians to make them shun violence which has characterised most elections in Nigeria in the past 14 years.
