Former President Goodluck Jonathan has called on candidates in the 2023 general elections to make their campaigns issues-based and violence-free, warning that hate-filled electioneering could ruin Nigeria’s democracy.

Mr Jonathan made the call in his virtual goodwill message read on Thursday in Abuja at the signing of the first National Peace Accord on the 2023 general elections, which presidential candidates and their parties attended.

The presidential race involving ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Governors Rabiu Kwankwaso, Peter Obi and Bola Tinubu is expected to be the most competitive in the 2023 general elections.

He also urged the candidates, political promoters and supporters to exercise restraint.

“We are at a critical stage in our national life where we have no choice but to promote national cohesion, love and hope in order to make the desired progress. We cannot afford to continue to play politics of bitterness and division along ethnic and religious lines,” said Mr Jonathan. “This is because such kind of politics portends great danger to our unity, growth and the sustenance of our democracy.”

The ex-president warned of the “destructive impact of hate speech, fake news and mindless propaganda, especially in a clime where the fabric of unity and stability still needs to be strengthened.”

“They should, by all means, avoid needless attacks on personalities and use of abusive language for those are the elements that cause chaos and crisis during elections,” Mr Jonathan added.

He declared that ensuring peaceful elections in 2023 was “our collective responsibility.”

Jonathan urged Nigeria to raise the bar in credible and transparent elections by ensuring that the country’s electoral process is peaceful, free and fair.

“Since I left office in 2015, I have been involved in the process of promoting democracy across Africa. My experience as an election observer, having led observation missions to many countries, is that many African countries are working hard to improve their elections and deepen the roots of democracy in their land,” the ex-Nigerian leader pointed out.

He hoped “our country to raise the bar for credible and transparent elections by ensuring that our electoral processes are peaceful, free and fair.” 

(NAN)