2023: Catholic Church tasks FG on violent-free elections

The Catholic Church has tasked the Federal Government to provide enabling environment for citizens to exercise their franchise in 2023, devoid of violence, intimidation, vote buying and vote selling.

This is contained in a communique issued at the end of the church’s 3rd National Pastoral Congress held in Benin.

The communique was made available to the Newsmen by Padre Mike-Nsikak Umoh, the National Director of Social Communications, on Thursday in Abuja.

“These electoral anomalies harm the democratic process as they contribute to depriving citizens the freedom to make informed choices at elections, by making the process less credible,” it added.

It also urged the government to provide adequate security to enable citizens to come out and exercise their franchise.

The church advised citizens to vote candidates of credibility and integrity who have demonstrated the capacity to pilot the affairs of the nation in a responsible and corrupt-free manner.

It also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that the electoral process “is just, transparent, open, free, fair and credible”.

The communique said campaigns should be idea-based devoid of bitterness and unhealthy rivalry.