With support from British Council, Support Initiative for Sustainable Development (SISDEV) convened stakeholders round table dialogue in Asari-Toru and Degema Local Government Areas on 2023 electoral violence and vote trading prevention. In attendance were the critical stakeholders of the LGAs amongst which are chiefs, political parties leaders, representatives of security agencies, youth bodies, community development committees, community associations, female groups and religious bodies.
It was resolved at the end of the roundtable dialogue by Asari-Toru LGA participants that;
- Affirmed that ASALGA has been peaceful until 2010
- Urged for values reorientation and the provision of meaningful engagements for the youths by the citizens especially the political class and also bring in an actionable legislation on electoral violence that will punish any offender no matter how highly placed and the neutrality on the part of the security agencies.
- Appealed for the rejigging of the leadership recruitment processes in all the communities and outright ban on cultism and the use of drugs in the area
- Appealed to the governments (both state and the local government council) to abrogate the Executive Order 21 &22 in order not to cause violence in the election period
- Called for peace advocacy and the signing of Peace Accord by the political parties and candidates in the forth-coming elections and recommended for a partnership between ASALGA Team, Buguma Peace Builders and SISDEV to organize the Peace Advocacy and Signing of Peace Accord.
- Urged participants to step down the dialogue to the various communities and groups represented
- Appealed to the citizenry especially the religious organizations to promote good values in the people rather than celebrate cultists, etc and the citizenry to secure youth corps members posted to the area in the coming elections.
- Urged the youths to cooperate with the security agencies in curbing electoral violence and the citizenry to adhere to the curfew and stop renting voters in the coming elections.
The participants mandated the organizers to use the attendance register to sign the communiqué.
- Chief H.M Johnbull
- Chief Igonbo Udonyor
- Ibiere .C. Benibo
- Dumo C. Benibo
- Robert Kaine
- John Haward
- Sotonye Malintooh
- Sogbeye Isokariari
- HON. Alabo Mac-Harry
- Kio Akesodiari Glad
- Grace Eze
- West Obe-ene second
- Prayer Warmate
- Princewill Osima Famabia
- Bekiwari Eferebo
- Prince Dateme Sundayba
- Ayaba Godknows
- Sagbe Endure .J.
- Igonikon Da-opu
- Bro. Sele Francis
- Lalada R. Wokoma
- Iselemaba Braide
- Harry Awolaywnoouu Macmorrison
- Daibiyenimim Fubara
- Ikalama Awongo
- Chief Igbikigils emmanuel
- Chief Sobere Wokoma
- Horsfsll B. Fabiawar
- Victor Sunday
- Ibiba Princewill .G.
- Richard Winners Horsfall
- Impaisinba G. Samuel
- Amos Ekpeteme
- Sunny Dada
- Nnah Victoria
- Philip Kalio
The following resolutions were reached at the end of the roundtable discussion by Degema participants that;
- Citizens should exercise their franchise during the forth-coming elections
- Women should be encouraged to actively participate in politics
- Salaries and remuneration of politicians should be made less lucrative
- There should be the creation of employment opportunities by governments and citizens should not be dogmatic while voting
- Governments and citizens should abate crimes against women and children and political parties should not only give equal opportunities to the girl child but also encourage the girls/women to be more productive especially in politics & governance
- Security agencies should up their games in securing the citizens while politicians should eschew war songs at political campaigns
- Citizens should be who they are and there should be values reorientation by all
- Political parties should present their MANIFSETO stating their policies and programmes for the citizens to guide them (the citizens) to decide who they will cast their franchise for
- Citizens are encouraged to collect their permanent voters cards (PVCs) and advised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to distribute the PVCs at the point of enumeration and the collection of the PVCs should be decentralized
- Youth corps members serving in the communities should be adequately secured especially when they are involved in electoral duties
- The Muslim community should advocate for peace, tolerance and non-violent elections in 2023 and the Churches should incubate in their members/congregation act of good values and the principles of non-violent elections 2023
- Traditional institutions should be apolitical and advocate for non-violent elections while parents should teach their children their indigenous languages.
The participants mandated the organizers to use the attendance register to sign the communiqué.
- HRH. King Charles
- REVD. John Yellow
- Emmanuel Johnbull
- Chief Bature D. Ekengwo
- Murtala Abdullah
- Hamisu Musa
- Patience Nwakolu
- Priye Iyalla Amadi
- Ikuroa L. Harry
- Brown Stella
- Okoritel Harry
- Luke N.F
- Nangibo Tamunotonye
- Rev. Tamundene Samuel Bongilli
- O.Ojah
- Sobebo Princewill
- Chief Ohosuo Abraham Franos
- High Chief Abadi Precious Da
- Sydney Aladupwore
- Boma S. Jack
- Godwill Omo-Okwe Suku
- Manuel Christian
- Tamunomiete P. Dakoru
- Oparaji precious Ifeoma
- Sokari Ibikuroma
- Nwandugo Afamefula
- Hamilton Osuabo
- Alapbe Beauty Godsgift
- Florence Isaac
- Jemina Ekerkosima
- Bealnut Abiye Luckarry
- Blessing O. Israel
- Chief W.W Gina
- Usmoro Hampa
- Joe. P. Christopher
- Ivivre M. Igoya
- Anthony Innocent
- Sunny Dada
- Nnah Victoria
- Philip Kalio