The Chairman of the Kaduna State Peace Commission (KAPECOM), Archbishop Josiah Idowu-Fearon, has said with the way ethnic and religious sentiments have beclouded political activities in the country, there is likelihood that regional bias may lead to inconclusive elections in 2023.
Speaking with newsmen in Kaduna on Thursday, Bishop Idowu-Fearon said religious leaders must see themselves as instruments of unity, especially as the elections draw nearer.
He lamented that some religious leaders now want to be seen as rulers, a situation which, he said, is not helping the country’s democratic processes.
Bishop Idowu-Fearon said, “Nigerians must be allowed to vote their choices regardless of religion and tribe. Let candidates’ manifestos and competence speak for them and not their religion or tribe.
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“Religious leaders are part of the political problems we have in this country. Some of them want to be rulers which is a wrong concept bringing about unnecessary sentiments.
“With the way political activities are going on currently, with candidates being viewed on a regional basis, the elections may be inconclusive in the first ballot,” the clergyman noted.
On the agitation by the South East for the presidency, he said, “Nigeria is practicing democracy which requires negotiation and not threat of any kind: politics should not be seen as a do or die affair.
“Insecurity and burning down of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) offices in the South East will only end up drawing the region backwards politically if not addressed holistically.”
He added, “As we approach the elections, the media must be objective, religious leaders must educate their members to vote based on competence and pray for the candidates because voting is a religious responsibility.
“Party candidates must be honest and should abide by the constitution and their campaigns must be issue-based devoid of hate speeches and calumny.
“Above all, we pray for a violence-free conduct of the 2023 general elections.”
It could be recalled that 14 governorship candidates as well as federal and state legislative candidates in Kaduna State committed to peaceful general elections in the state and the signing of a peace accord.
The accord, Daily Trust reports, was the high point of a high-level meeting with political parties, candidates and stakeholders for peaceful campaigns and elections in the state organised by KAPECOM in collaboration with Legal Awareness for Nigerian Women with support ActionAid through the “We-You Project.”
