2023: Kaduna peace commission fumes over use of hate speech

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The Kaduna State Peace Commission (KSPC) has expressed dissatisfaction over the nature of the ongoing campaigns for the forthcoming Governorship and House of Assembly elections scheduled to hold on Saturday 11th March 2023.

This was contained in a statement by the Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission, Saleh B. Momale and made available to the media in Kaduna yesterday.

The statement stated that there is evidently growing use of hate speech, profiling and the negative exploitation of religious and ethnic differences in the campaigns, which are needless at this point in time.

The statement added that these utterances in various communication platforms have the effect of instilling fear on the electorate and cause voter apathy in areas where the electorates feel unsafe to exercise their franchise unfettered “ The Commission wish to remind stakeholders that political parties and candidates participated at a parley with traditional and religious leaders on 1st December 2022 where there were robust discussions. Agreements on peaceful processes, non-violent conduct and adherence to the rule of law were reached.

“As a follow-up, there was a meeting with all candidates in the State on 2nd December 2022 in the office of the Commissioner of Police, Kaduna State where the need for peaceful conduct and issue-based campaign was unanimously agreed.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had canceled the senatorial results for Abaji and Bwari due to over voting.

Kingibe, while addressing Journalists in Abuja said that there was no over voting in Bwari Area Council, therefore, the cancellation was uncalled for.

According to her, a mistake in the tabulation of results should not affect the victory of a candidate.