2023: Accept Election Results, CSOs Tell Candidates

Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Nigeria have called on the presidential candidates and their supporters to accept the outcome of last Saturday’s election.
According to the CSOs, the presidential candidates should prevail on their supporters to eschew violence if they did not emerge.
The CSOs that spoke to The Tide source were Transition Monitoring Group (TMG), Transparency International (TI), the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and Rotary Club.
Speaking, the leader of TMG, TI, and CISLAC, Awwal Musa Rafsanjani, said the presidential candidates should know that only one person will emerge winner.
“We call on the presidential candidates to abide by the code of conduct they signed. The presidential candidates should also abide by the democratic tenets.
“Some will win, some will lose. Accept the outcome of the election, especially when it is free and fair,” Rafsanjani said.
“The people should not be involved in violence. It is the duty of the presidential candidates to ensure that they call their supporters not to do anything that will breach the peace of the country.
Meanwhile, The Rotary Club of Abuja has urged Nigerians, especially the presidential candidates, to embrace peace and  eschew violence in the course of the general elections.
A statement issued by the President of the club, Rotarian Obinna Nwandikom and the secretary, Rotarian Anderson Idoko encouraged the masses to see the Nation as a priority over any individual or political party, hence collective interest should come first.
The rotary statement implored Nigerians to exercise their democratic rights peacefully and responsibly and reject any form of violence.
“Elections are a cornerstone of any democratic society, and it is important that all stakeholders play their part in ensuring that the process is peaceful and transparent.
“The role of citizens in promoting peaceful elections cannot be overemphasized. Nigerians must show a high level of political maturity and eschew any form of violence, intimidation. They must be prepared to accept the outcome of the elections, even if their preferred candidates do not win,” the Rotary Club said.