KADUNA – Prof. Oshita Oshita, the Director-General, Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, on Thursday advocated continuous dialogue among political stakeholders to as panacea to electoral violence.
Oshita said this on Thursday in Kaduna at a two-day stakeholders dialogue for peaceful elections, organised for northern states.
The dialogue was organised by the institute in partnership with UN Development Programme and other development partners.
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Oshita was represented at the event by the institute’s Deputy Director, Research and Policy Analysis, Mr Emmanuel Mamman.
He said dialogue among the stakeholders was a crucial building block for the prevention of violence before, during and after the general elections.
“Given the potential of election-related violence to destabilise countries and regions, convening a strategic stakeholders’ dialogue ahead of the general elections in 2015 cannot be over-emphasised.
“Stakeholders must all work to improve electoral management and justice.
“We must collectively ensure specific electoral planning, implementation and dispute resolution strategies that can be used to avoid controversies, fraud and technical flaws”, Oshita said.
He said electoral management bodies and other bodies involved in the election to understand the factors that contribute to election-related violence and timely put in place prevention and mitigation measures.
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Also speaking, Alhaji Yau Mohammed, the ward head, Sabon Gari, said Muslim groups have been sensitising their members on the need to avoid violent conducts during the elections.
Similarly, Pastor Stephen Adeoye, of the Redeemed Church, Minna, said Christians would continue to partner their Muslim counterparts towards achieving peaceful polls.
Hajiya Maryam Abdullahi, who spoke on behalf of National Council of Women Societies, Kaduna State chapter, said women usually bore the brunt of violence.
Abdullahi said it was unfortunate that violence had made many women to become widows and childless. (NAN)