The United Nations and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Tuesday charged the Nigerian electorate against perpetration of violence in the forthcoming general elections.
The UN and ECOWAS said electoral violence in Nigeria would affect the peace and stability of the entire region and no country could absorb Nigerian refugees in the whole of West Africa.
They issued the warning in Jos, the capital city of Plateau State Capital, during an interactive session with the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) and other stakeholders, drawn from the North-Central and the North-East, in preparation for the 2023 general elections.
About 30 persons were said to have lost their lives as many severe injuries in election-related violence in parts in the country.
Delivering her speech at the event , Sa’adatu Sha’abu, who represented the United Nations Office for West Africa and Sahel (UNOWAS), said: “If things go wrong in Nigeria, there’ll be negative consequences for the peace and stability of the entire region.”
Brown Odigie, ECOWAS Programme Officer, Mediation, charged all stakeholders on the peaceful conduct of the 2023 elections.
Abel Fatah, the ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, who stood in for Odigie, implored all public office seekers to embrace peace.
He stated: “This is a mediation often done in countries across the ECOWAS region. We’re doing it for Nigeria because it’s a strategic member of ECOWAS.
“Nigeria has a huge population. The election can generate conflict if not effectively managed. And when violence occurs, with the enormous population of Nigeria, it can split to other neighbouring countries. I can assure you that no member within the zone of ECOWAS has the capacity to accommodate refugees from Nigeria.”
