The European Union (EU) has cautioned politicians to avoid hate speeches and other actions capable of affecting the outcome of next year’s elections.
This is coming ahead of the September 28 commencement of campaigns.
The union made this statement yesterday when it launched a €39m support fund for strengthening Nigeria’s democracy.
Head of the EU delegation to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Samuela Isopi, said politicians should make their campaigns issue-based and take a firm stance against violence and hate speeches
Isopi said: “We must all support and respect the fundamentals as INEC fulfills its constitutional mandate. INEC must be allowed to operate free from outside pressure, and in turn, must demonstrate full neutrality and professionalism.
“Tremendous progress has been achieved. The new electoral act is a major step forward and its full implementation together with the technical reforms introduced by INEC have the potential to make the 2023 general election a milestone in Nigeria’s democratic history.
“We hope that everybody will make the right choices for Nigeria. The EU is ready to do its part. Nigerian authorities have already invited the EU to deploy an Election Observation Mission, as we have consistently and regularly done since 1999.”
