The National Assembly want political parties and their candidates to focus on issue based campaign devoid of derogatory statements, to entrench good governance in the country.
This was the position of the President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawal and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, in Abuja at a High Level Forum on Political Communication and Issue Based Campaign in the 2023 General Elections.
The forum being organised by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies NILDS in Collaboration with the Kukah Centre, focuses on how to ensure a peaceful campaign to promote hitch free 2023 General Election.
The President of the Senate Ahmed Lawal said the National Assembly had taken drastic measures to strengthen the nation’s democratic process.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, while advising Nigerians to critically interrogate political party candidates, gave the assurance that the House would ensure the passage of the Electoral Offences Commission and empower the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to conduct a free and credible election.
Founder of Kukah Centre, Most Reverend Matthew Kukah, explained that religious and ethnic differences are not the major issues in the nation’s democracy, but the need for re-emerging Nigeria
Director General of NILDS, Professor Abubakar Sulaiman, observed that technological advancements, proliferation of electronic and social media had exposed the nation’s democracy to new threats, and urged citizens to hold political office holders accountable to fulfill their promises.
Reporting by Ifeanyi Osita; Editing by Julian Osamoto