The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), an NGO, yesterday in Abuja, met with political parties seeking electoral offices in the 2019 general elections and charged them on leadership effectiveness and accountability.
The One-Day Interface between Political Parties and Social Influencers organized by the Centre, with support from MacArthur foundation called on political parties to reiterate its commitment to the fight against corruption.
In his opening remark , the chairman of the event, Dr Tunde Akanni said the aim of the dialogue was to bridge up the political parties and social influencers as well as actors in order to provide a forum through which the social influencers working anti-corruption and accountability can directly interact with political parties and actors.
He said people seeking electoral offices should focus on issues that would impact on the populace.
“The dialogue also provides forum for participants to rub minds on how best to address leadership challenges and corruption in the country.
“It is necessary for the aspirants to tell the people what they intend to do for them. We also want to focus on transparency in governance so as to reduce corruption in all sectors.”
Political parties present at the interface identified corruption has the major menace bedeviling the nation, adding that proper mechanisms have not been put in place by the current administration to tackle it.
According to a communique signed at the end of the dialogue, it was observed that granting immunity to some political office holders, the Nigerian constitution inhibits the fight against corruption in the executive arm.
The political parties said governance should not be left for politicians and the leaders but people especially women and youths should participate in governance.
