TheCable

The Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) says it will partner with an initiative funded by the United States Agency for International Aid (USAID) on improving participation in Nigeria’s 2023 elections.

Auwal Rafsanjani, chairman of TMG, a civil society organisation (CSO), announced the development in a statement on Thursday.

The group also expressed concern over the violence recorded in relation to recent attacks on offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“The high rate of cases of arson at the INEC offices in Ogun and Osun states, which has led to the loss of 904 election boxes and 65,699 uncollected Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), have become an alarming issue,” Rafsanjani said.

“With the critical infrastructure of INEC increasingly being targeted, recent attacks appear like a systematic assault meant to cripple INEC operations ahead of the 2023 general election.

“We have also witnessed scenarios where some state governments prevent the opposition from using public facilities for their campaigns which have been readily available to them.

“It is on the backdrop that TMG is partnering the Strengthening Civic Advocacy and Local Engagement (SCALE), an initiative funded by USAID, to support citizens’ engagement in the 2023 general election.

“The partnership is aimed at improving citizens’ participation and stakeholders’ engagement towards violence-free, participatory and credible 2023 elections.

“The collaboration among the two foremost organisations will adopt robust engagements with stakeholders, while also initiating a system to monitor and publicise the campaign promises of the major political parties before and after the elections.

“The partnership will also seek to promote issue-based electoral campaigns and to observe and report electoral conduct to reflect the yearnings of citizens in the elections.

“In achieving the set objectives, TMG will be adopting the following approaches: Documenting and publicising election promises of candidates and political parties; training the trainers workshop for TMG members across the country in Abuja; and supporting electoral debates for select parties at the state and national levels.”