2023: Desperate Politicians, Our Worst Challenge- INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has mentioned the desperation of politicians and their do-or-die attitude as the worst challenge the body faces ahead of the 2023 general elections.

The INEC resident electoral commissioner in Lagos, Olusegun Agbaje spoke at the enlarged stakeholders’ forum of the commission at its headquarters in the state.

Agbaje urged stakeholders, especially political parties, to create a peaceful atmosphere for INEC to conduct free, fair, and credible elections.

“The worst challenge facing the electoral process currently is the do-or-die attitude of politicians which involves the use of different unlawful means to undermine the electoral process,” he said.

“The way desperate politicians use thugs to either disrupt elections or intimidate election officials in some polling units, RAC, and collation centres during the last general election assumed a very worrisome dimension and must not be allowed to happen again in Lagos state.

“The consequences of not getting this election right are too great and should not even be contemplated.

“Political party leaders and candidates are strongly enjoined to caution their followers to play politics by the rules and imbibe the spirit of politics without bitterness.”

Agbaje urged stakeholders to engage in effective, positive, purposeful, and sustainable participation in the democratic process.

He advised politicians to shun violence, fake news, malpractices, snatching of ballot boxes, buying and selling of voters cards, intimidation of election officials, and all other election vices.