The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission has advocated for the peaceful conduct of the forthcoming general elections in the country.
The general election is slated for February 25, 2023 with campaign flagged off on September 28.
Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS), at the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Abdel Musa Fatau, urged Nigerian politicians to ensure that they shun crisis during and after the general elections.
Fatau revealed this during the opening ceremony of a two-day stakeholders consultative meeting on the peaceful 2023 presidential election and political transition in Nigeria on Tuesday in Abuja.
Fatau who was Represented by Dr Aderemi Ajibewa, who is a Director, Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS) in the ECOWAS Commission urged politicians not to engage statements that will incite ethnic or religious crisis in the country.
He urged politicians to shun hate speech, saying that they should not make utterances that will lead to ethnic or religious crises in the country.
Fatau noted that the 2023 election would provide an opportunity for the country to solidify its democracy.
He urged security agencies and INEC to ensure that the election is peaceful, free, fair and acceptable to the international community.