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LAGOS – Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the Igbo Agenda Dialogue (IAD), a non-partisan socio-political and prodemocracy organisation, has charged politicians and their supporters across party line and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to shun violence and ensure that the election is credible.
The organisation stated this in a statement on Monday jointly signed by its Convener/ National Chairman, Chief Chekwas Okrie and Executive Secretary, Jonathan Elendu, stressing that any attempt to manipulate the electoral process or to shortchange the electorate during and after the elections may result in an uncontrollable anarchy.
The statement reads, “We congratulate the presidential candidates of all the political parties for the 2027 presidential election. Practically all the presidential candidates in their acceptance speeches highlighted and almost agreed on the key areas and sectors that require particular attention to develop, secure, and unite Nigerians notwithstanding our ethnic, religious and sectional diversities.
“The 2027 general elections promise to witness robust and vibrant electioneering campaigns. The presidential election promises to be an epic encounter.
“We urge the politicians and their supporters to remain focused on issues and eschew the resort to acerbic and inflammatory rhetoric.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has the onerous tasks to deliver to Nigerians credible, transparent, free, and fair elections. Nigerians expect nothing less. The world is watching. The security agencies mustn’t allow themselves to be compromised. Nigeria currently has several flash points, and the citizens are restive at this time as a result of many existential challenges. Politicians, INEC, and security agencies must not exacerbate an already incendiary and potentially explosive polity by their actions and utterances.
“IAD has already embarked on a nationwide advocacy to urge our people who are eligible to take advantage of the ongoing last phase of the continuous voters’ registration exercise by INEC to register and to come out en masse in January and February 2027 to vote massively for candidates and political parties of their choice. We urge similar organisations to join in this patriotic effort.
“Finally, we wish to caution that any attempt to manipulate the electoral process or to shortchange the electorate during and after the elections may result in an uncontrollable anarchy that may threaten the very foundation of our country.”
