Cash scarcity, insecurity may affect elections conduct – Interfaith Forum

The Interfaith Dialogue Forum for Peace (IDFP) says possible threats to the successful conduct of this year’s general elections must be urgently addressed.

The co-chairmen of the forum, Rev. Amos Kiri and Dr Yusuf Yakubu Arrigasiyyu, at a media briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, said security threats, scarcity of naira notes and divisive politics must be addressed.

“Nigeria’s politics is greatly divided across religious, ethnic, regional, and political party lines. The emerging trend of religious leaders, political actors and groups openly endorsing candidates based on primordial sentiments portends a threat to democratic ideals.

“These actions are further deepening the divide between groups and creating a sense of disillusionment among the citizenry. Since the rollout of the new naira notes, Nigerians have suffered untold hardship in their attempts to access the new currencies for their daily needs and businesses.

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“The naira redesign may have been intended to help the economy but ordinary citizens have faced the brutal brunt of this policy. The elections are set to take place against a backdrop of violent conflicts, armed banditry, terrorism and heightened insecurity across more than two-thirds of Nigeria’s landscape,” they said.

“Similarly, the culture of impunity for abuses by security forces and other actors during the general elections remains a concern. There have also been security threats from multiple groups across the country who have been trying to undermine the elections.”