PRESS RELEASE AFTER JMPP OFFICIALS' LIVE INTERVIEW ON KAPITAL FM, ABUJA, ON THE TOPIC:

AVOIDING ELECTORAL VIOLENCE IN NIGERIA[color=#990000][/color]

Introduction
Elections can sow the seeds of good governance when adequately managed. At times, elections trigger widespread political violence because they can exacerbate tensions within fragile, conflict-prone, or oppressive societies. Preventing violence before its eruption is not just a possibility but preferable to rapid response mechanisms and other reactive approaches.

Preventing election violence goes beyond the organization of free and fair elections. Peaceful elections are no guarantee for democratic quality, while free and fair elections are no guarantee for election security. The 2011 elections in Nigeria illustrate this paradox: While the democratic quality of the polls had vastly improved compared to past elections, the elections were the most violent in the country’s history.

Justice Must Prevail Party (JMPP) Approach
Justice Must Prevail Party (JMPP) has made a long-term commitment to champion efforts to build peace and prevent electoral violence in Nigeria by its sworn twelve (12) pillars of Oath. For example, the 7th of the 12 Pillars of Oath says ‘I shall not attack any church or mosque, Christians or Muslims, either directly or indirectly by inciting words or instruments. The 8th says ‘I shall stand for justice for all the tribes and ethnic nationalities in our nation, Nigeria'.

JMPP will also encourage the Nigerian Government, other political parties and the global community, at this critical juncture to amplify messages of and commitments to non-violence over elections in Nigeria. Nigerian political leaders at every level should be encouraged to commit publicly to a non-violent process, to existing legal means to resolve disputes, and to accountability for those doing violence. International leaders should encourage additional statements through diplomatic channels, and reinforce these messages through their own statements.

Ministerial, public and private statements (including joint statements) should be featured on national, state and local media.

There would be the need to support local, national and international civil society and media efforts to monitor, document, and report inflammatory rhetoric through social media and traditional media. JMPP supports the idea of watching out on all media outlets and individual social media users and make them accountable for hate speech. Local NGOs should also be assisted in conducting sensitization across the nation.

There is the need to have a clear, agreed upon, and accessible post-election grievance mediation structures before the elections to deter violence during the elections. Ensuring fora are in place through which communities can discuss and seek justice for any corruption, violence or abuse that may occur during the elections period may help deter violence. Establishing such mechanism now can help prevent violence. These mechanisms should be established at local, state, and national levels, and should be facilitated by multiple types of leader such as traditional, government, youth, religious, and other leaders, and should be clearly communicated to the public.

There is the need to support media coordination efforts around violence prevention. The role of the media in preventing electoral violence is crucial. Media can spur on violence, or encourage peace. Media can propagate rumors or debunk them. News reporting will play a particularly critical role in defusing violence risks and establishing the legitimacy of the process especially if they work across regions in the post-elections period. There is also the need to closely monitor what is been said about our electoral proceedings on the international media to ensure that they do not fan the embers of hatred and violence.

There is the need to reach out to individual media to encourage them to play a more active and constructive role, and support targeted campaigns to disseminate information around on for example, how to access voter ID cards through radio, television, social media and print; monitor processes and explain legal challenges to the results that will likely arise in a contested election. We should encourage joint coverage by media across regional and political lines. This includes the “synergy” of 36 leading radio stations in Nigeria doing joint real-time coverage round the country. Other ideas could include common messages on the front page of newspapers.

We need to engage the Nigeria private sector to make a private-sector case for peaceful elections. The role of individual private sector leaders can be critical, as well as collective action by the chambers of commerce at the state and federal level. Business leaders can influence political actors to abide by peace pacts and to accept election results, and they should be included in conversations at state and federal levels to ensure that constituents are not mobilized for violence.

A well-trained and equipped joint security forces with a good ‘show of force’ may intimidate potential perpetrators on Election Day. The practice of election violence prevention must target different groups and individuals, depending on risk assessments in particular contexts. Prevention models can be categorized in terms of the segments of the population they target, which may be ordinary citizens, political elites, or likely perpetrators.

A well-trained and equipped police force and military presents an important domestic guarantee for election security, as long as they prioritize the protection of the electorate over elite interests and display professional conduct. Whether the threats originate from violent riots, insurgent attacks, or targeted assassinations, police are responsible for the protection of election materials and stakeholders, including candidates, voters, or poll workers. Police training can also help ensure security forces are part of the solution instead of the problem, as police abuse, intimidation, or repression present common types of election violence.

The role and responsibility of the political elite in inciting and organizing election violence cannot be underestimated, since violence commonly results from an incumbent’s fear of losing power in the face of an uncertain election outcome. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) empowered to enforce election guidelines in a consistent and nonpartisan manner can help deter or mitigate violence.

We need to establish clear contingency plans in bad, or worst, case scenarios at every level. At the local level, this should include identifying capacities for local action to defuse worsening situations through media, influential local leaders and civil society groups. In advance of the elections, international diplomatic actors should identify and ensure their ability to reach out to key Nigerian influencers, potential trusted national and international mediators and advisors, and set up a mechanism for consultation among major international partners – including the AU and ECOWAS – in the post-elections period.

Considering the identified sources of risk in Nigeria with upcoming elections, there is the need for stakeholders to develop the appropriate set of policy instruments to address the frustrations, financial incentives, and fears of those considering violence as a means to win, disrupt, or protest the vote. At the same time, local capacities must be strengthened to protect vulnerable citizens and communities. For example, JMPP leadership revolution is under Oath to pay zakat or tithe of all income that enter Nigeria’s account to the poor and the needy in our society from 2019 onwards to reduce the vulnerabilities of Nigerians to electoral violence. Beneficiaries in this group include widows, orphans and almajiris, people with disabilities, people above 70 years old, Priests and Imams, among others. This huge money in excess of 50 billion annually since 2015 will totally and completely wipe away poverty from Nigeria within two years.

Hon. Chike Amaeze
National Publicity Secretary
Justice Must Prevail Party
www.jmpp.ng

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