Sokoto, 01 October, 2022 / 9:25 pm (ACI Africa).
The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto in Nigeria has cautioned politicians against luring the electorate ahead of the country’s February 2023 general elections, saying political candidates “must not exploit weaknesses of our people”.
On Thursday, September 29, presidential candidates of all 18 recognized political parties reportedly signed a peace accord committing themselves to a peaceful campaign towards the 25 February 2023 general elections. All the candidates and national chairmen of their parties signed the accord organized by the National Peace Committee (NPC).
Speaking during the September 29 event that was held at Abuja International Conference Center, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah expressed his awareness of the practice of voter bribery saying the vice undermines democracy in the West African country.
“We are aware of the capacity of this process (vote buying) to undermine the entire project of democracy,” Bishop Kukah said, adding, “Yes, Nigerians are poor, yes, Nigerians are suffering but none of that is a substitute.”
The Nigerian Bishop who was appointed as a member of the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development in January 2021 said further, “Politicians must not exploit the weaknesses of our people in a way and manner that has made vote buying part of our culture.”
