Osun 2022: PAN Sends Crucial Message to APC, PDP, Others Over Personality Attacks in Campaigns
- The highly anticipated gubernatorial election in Osun state is gradually getting serious attention as it draws closer
- It is expected that the election will be keenly contested like it was in the previous years as the APC and PDP have been tipped to be favourites
- Meanwhile, civil society groups have warned supporters and aspirants of political parties to be more focused on campaign issues rather than attack each other's personalities
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Osun, Osogbo - A research-based non-governmental organisation, Positive Agenda Nigeria (PAN) has admonished political parties in Osun State and their supporters to refrain from attacking the personalities of their opponents ahead of the July Governorship Election in the state, Legit.ng reports.
The non-partisan organisation stated this in its first weekly report recently released to the public ahead of the gubernatorial polls in the state.
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According to the report, the major political parties in the state, the APC and the PDP, their supporters and media teams were found attacking the personalities of their political opponents instead of focusing more attention on campaign issues that could woo the electorate.
As gathered in the report, both the PDP and the APC attacked each other in terms of personalities of their candidates alongside their capabilities to rule the state, although the PDP engaged in such attacks than the APC.
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Osun 2022: APC, PDP not addressing 'real campaign issues' - PAN
The report read:
"Nonetheless, in a contest like this, concerned observers and citizens of the state would have expected that the political parties, their members/supporters and media team sell the manifestoes of their flagbearers to potential electorate, especially opposition parties that intend slugging it out with the incumbent governor in July, 2022.
"With the current findings, the political parties, their members/supporters and media team are not yet addressing “real campaign issues” every informed electorate in Osun State will want to hear on why they should vote for a particular candidate.
"We strongly recommend that the political parties, their supporters and media teams start engaging electorate on the social media on real campaign issues/policy programmes instead of demarketing the personalities of their political opponents."
The organisation's Team Lead, Dr Adebiyi Rasheed Ademola of Fountain University's Department of Mass Communication in Osogbo, revealed that the organisation will monitor and analyse the actors' campaign efforts for 69 days.
Using diverse research methodologies, he notes that members of the team will fiercely pursue answers to informed policy engagement or extensive personality disparagement in the Osun 2022 governorship election campaign.
Adebiyi said:
"We posed this issue in light of the political parties' recent pledges, particularly the two main parties in the state, that they would be respectable in their campaign activities."
Yiaga Africa commences community organising training for young civic leaders
In another development, Yiaga Africa, on Monday, May 9, commenced a community organising training for young civic leaders in West Africa.
The program was adopted from the Leadership, Organising and Action curriculum from Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
The initiative had about 40 participants across the sub-region and is supported by the National Endowment for Democracy.
2023 Elections: GUTS unveils plan, takes sensitization to youths, others
Meanwhile, the Gina Unimke and Trisha Shine foundation has launched a massive plan ahead of the 2023 general elections.
In its unveiling statement issued on Thursday, May 5 in Abuja, the foundation stressed the importance of participatory democracy and a credible poll come 2023.
The statement signed by its media coordinator, Mr. Akuma Ukpo, said 2023 was critical for the future of the country and all stakeholders must be committed to ensuring that the future of the country is guaranteed.
Source: Legit.ng
