The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), has reaffirmed its commitment to efforts to foster peace, security and stability for Nigeria to achieve a peaceful elections in 2023.

The Director, Political Affairs of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr.

Remi Ajibewa, made this known on Friday during a sensitisation workshop in partnership with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Rivers.

He said that the South-South sensitisation workshop, with the theme, “Enhancing Media and Political Parties Roles in Promoting Good Participatory Process”, intended to get response from stakeholders on how to achieve a successful electioneering process in the 2023 general election.

Ajibewa, represented by Mr Emmanuel Okorodudu, the Head of Division, Democracy and Good Governance Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Regional Security at ECOWAS, said that the Commission would identify with Nigeria as ECOWAS member state during the elections.

Ajibewa said that ECOWAS would also deploy short-term and long-term observers in the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria to monitor and observe the elections.

He said that ECOWAS believed that with such support, Nigeria could achieve a peaceful and violent-free electoral process.

Ajibewa, on behalf of the President of ECOWAS Commission, also thanked the Rivers Government for being a perfect host.

He also commended the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Rivers for partnering with the Commission, the security agencies, Civil Society Organisations and the media in making the workshop a success.

He also commended the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) for its support.

He urged IPAC to work cordially with the political parties to ensure a peaceful electioneering process in the 2023 general election.

Mr Kweku Asante, the Senior Programme Manager, Media Foundation for West Africa, Accra, Ghana, said that social media should be used as a tool during and after election.

Asante, who spoke on the topic “Upholding positive media values and Ethics during electioneering”, urged media practitioners to sustain a culture of facts checking on information emanating from social media and other sources before publication.

Asante also spoke on the topic: “Social Media and Positive Citizens’ engagement for Nigeria’s 2023 general elections, opportunities for Nigerian citizens journalists,  social media practitioners and political parties”.

He advised stakeholders to be present and active on social media platforms to enable them know when issues of fake news on social media would cross the line of National peace and unity.

Mr Brenard Mornah, Former Chairman, Political Party, Human Rights Advocate and Citizens Activist, Accra, Ghana, who also spoke on the topic “The Campaign Strategy for Political Parties and Positive Citizens’ engagement for Nigeria 2023 election”, commended ECOWAS for peace building across West Africa.

Mornah urged political parties to focus on issue-based campaign, saying that the choice of candidates and their activities should reflect good governance for citizens and the nation.

Mornah, who also spoke on “Managing Thuggery and Vigilantism Group Activities”, said that much attention should be given to Vigilantism due to its importance to the nation to avoid crisis.

Mr Stanley Job Stanley, the State Chairman of the NUJ, commended INEC and ECOWAS for equipping journalists through trainings and workshops.

According to Stanley, the media are well equipped and set for the 2023 election reportage in Rivers.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the stakeholders, during the meeting, also recommended that the security agencies’ neutrality should be paramount while pledging allegiance to the people instead of parties in power or opposition.

They also stated that protection of journalists and electorates by security  agencies, especially the police, should be paramount.

They said that the election entity by the police should be holistic not excluding the political parties.

They also urged the military to stick to its Constitutional roles and stay away from politics in order not to undermine participation.

They also said that sensitisation and advocacy for security agencies in terms of further operational procedures was necessary.

They also called for equitable deployment of security personnel to all areas.

They urged the security agencies, especially the police, to be proactive, especially on social media.

On the part of the media, stakeholders recommended that journalists should be professional and abide by the Code of Ethics of the profession.

They urged journalists and the media to keep to the electoral rules and regulations, adding that insurance policy should be taken out for journalists in the region.

They also recommended that journalists should be patriotic, nation builders, conflict sensitive and promote peace journalism.

They urged media organisations to use evaluation mechanisms to counter fake news, disinformation and misinformation, adding that journalists should also be security conscious and a live to report the news.

On the part of national interest and security recommendations for Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), the commission urged CSOs to be home based, obey rules and regulations and have proper understanding of the new electoral act process to be able to sensitise the public.

It urged them to promote disabilities and gender equality.

Speaking on vote buying, the commission also expressed the need for intensive education or sensitisation awareness on the disadvantage.

It urged the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) to scale up its surveillance during the election, by having desk officers to counter fake news and misinformation.

It urged International Observers to be objective in their reports.

The commission also urged the electorates to go out in mass and cast their votes. (NAN)