By Muhammad Mamman
A leading civil society organization is urging voters in Jigawa State to prioritize peace and democratic values during Saturday’s by-election for the Garki-Babuba Federal Constituency, emphasizing that elections should be a contest of ideas, not violence.
They made the call at the press conference Friday in Dutse, where its president, Muhammad Basirka, called on voters to turn out in large numbers to elect credible candidates.
Basirka stressed the importance of a peaceful electoral process, urging candidates, party supporters, security personnel, traditional leaders, and community influencers to uphold civility.
“This is not just another political event,” Basirka said. “It’s a critical opportunity for our people to choose representatives who will champion their voices, defend their interests, and shape their future. We must prioritize peace over conflict and ideas over violence.”
The coalition, operating as a civil society situation room, vowed to monitor the election closely to ensure it remains free, fair, transparent, and peaceful.
“Our role is to promote transparency and accountability at every stage,” Basirka added. “We are working with security agencies, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), political parties, and the media to safeguard the integrity of this process and encourage fearless participation from voters.”
Basirka also called on eligible Nigerians to register during INEC’s Continuous Voter Registration, set to begin August 18, as a step toward strengthening democratic participation.
