As the 2023 general elections get closer, Civil Society Organisations have urged citizens not to engage in any act or forms of electoral violence either before, during and after elections .
Violence is usually designed to minimise or neutralized opponents chances of wining as it can affect the polls.
They also advised Nigerians to take a stand in nation building .\
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They want citizens to fully participate in elections and vote for credible and noble leaders who stand against violence .
This was disclosed at a community leaders roundtable on participatory and violence free 2023 elections in Abuja .
Violence is one of the recurring features of Nigeria’s electoral history and democratic journey since independence in 1960.
There is usually a breakdown of peace before , during and after elections as supporters of various political parties cause mayhem in a bid to force their candidates into the consciousness of the electorates .
Their resort to violence is also designed to minimise and neutralise the opposition’s chances of winning.
These Civil Society Organizations want to change this narrative, and are reaching out community leaders to encourage those they oversee to engage in peaceful and participatory elections, in 2023.
At a roundtable meeting, leaders from various communities all agreed that there is an urgent need for citizens to engage politicians by asking critical questions that will enable the political candidates to do things differently and not just make empty promises .
Nigerians were encouraged to take a stand in Nation Building by putting the interest of the country first as citizens can not remain passive and expect to have a better society.
