TOWARDS ACHIEVING HITCH-FREE POLITICAL ACTIVITIES FOR NEXT YEAR’S GENERAL ELECTIONS

BY IFEANYI OGBONNA, OF OUR REPORTORIAL UNIT

Throughout the federation, it is no longer news that the lndependent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has released activities for the 2027 General Elections in Nigeria.

Symbolically, elections have been a critical exercise that determines the future of any nation in a democratic setting in order to choose leaders, that will not only promote freedom where citizens enjoy human rights but give citizens a say on important issues that affect them.

Expectedly, the activities for the elections by political parties are to begin with the conduct of party primaries including the resolution of disputes arising from primaries on April 23, to end on May 30, 2026.

Also, the presidential and National Assembly campaigns will commence on August 19,2026, whereas the Campaigns for Governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections will begin on September 9,this year.

However, as provided by INEC guideline,all campaigns shall end 24 hours before the election day.

Accordingly,the presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16,2027, while the Governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections are to hold on February 6,2027.

In the build-up to the electioneering period,the political gladiators across political parties in the country must jettison acts capable of generating tension and heating up the polity.

Be it as it may, the truth remains that the ambition of any aspirant in Nigeria does not worth the blood of any Nigerian, while politicians must understand that elections are not won under the atmosphere of do or die.

No doubt,the nation is currently facing serious security and economic challenges, therefore whatever it would cost to sustain peace and stability must not be jeopardise.

In other hand,those contesting various positions in the next year’s general election must allow the will of the people who would had exercised their civic responsibility;voting.

The leaders of the varoius political parties and contestants are expected to refrain from abusive and reckless words that can cause uproar, and concentrate on issues based campaigns as enshrined in their manifestos to convince eligible voters to see reasons to vote them in.

The truth remains that politically, Nigerians are enlightened now to make decisions capable of engendering good governance,and all it takes to effect the needed representation at the federal and state levels.

In Abia state and Nigeria in general, people are encouraged to register and obtain their permanent voter cards, in the designated INEC offices nationwide as a guarantee to be ready to exercise their franchise.

Therefore, at this time our country is about to make political bold statement,no one is expected to sit on the fence.