Ahead of 2023 general elections, political parties have been tasked to incorporate anti-corruption and accountability in their manifestoes to serve as guide to prospective candidate that will win elections on their behalf.
Stakeholders at a one-day meeting for political parties on prioritizing anti-corruption and accountability issues in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, on Monday agreed that this will translate into good governance.
The meeting organized by Conscience for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution (CHRCR), in partnership with Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) observed that political parties and their candidates do not keep to their campaign promises, adding that this is one of the reasons for disenchantment of the citizens in governance and trust among the citizens in participating in political party activities.
The Executive Director of CHRCR, Comrade Idris Miliki Abdul, said the civil society will monitor, as part of the project, campaign promises of selected political parties to ensure that citizens are not short-changed in governance.
He added that the civil society will ensure documentation of campaign promises of political parties and their candidates.
Miliki called for continuous interactions to improve the relationship between the citizens and the political parties.
Stakeholders at the meeting comprising of executives of political parties, media and civil society organization said inclusion of vulnerable groups and gender equity in political party positions remains a challenge.
They called for increased political awareness among women. and called on parties to to put deliberate strategies for inclusion of women in key elective and appointive positions in place.
The stakeholders meeting, with support from John D. and Catherine T MacArthur Foundation, was organized to provide a platform for interaction between the civil society, media and INEC-recognized political parties on issues on anti-corruption and accountability in elections towards the 2023 general elections at state level in Kogi State.
