Ambassador Nelson Mkparu, a billionaire businessman based in Jos, has praised President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to ensuring that the upcoming general elections are free, fair, credible, and peaceful.
Mkparu, who works in the pipe manufacturing industry, credited the president for his prompt approval of the amended Electoral Act, which includes legal provisions allowing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to employ necessary technology in the voting process.
Despite his optimism for the upcoming elections, Mkparu stressed that the sustainability of Nigeria’s democracy is not a straightforward path.
He emphasized the importance of citizens in the democratic process and urged them to reject any activities that could undermine the country’s progress.
Speaking to reporters, Mkparu highlighted the significance of a peaceful election, saying the voting process should not be marred by violence or intimidation.
“In particular, the media is paramount in voter education so that the Nigerian citizens are enlightened to resist the urge to sell their votes and not to allow themselves to be used to commit electoral offences or cause violence before, during and after elections”, Mpkaru added.
It would be recalled that the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has stressed that only those with the Permanent Voters Card, PVC, would be allowed to vote during the general elections.
The INEC boss had said there was a need for the Commission to continue to dispel the fears that the Bimodal Voter Registration System (BVAS) could be compromised.
According to him, the BVAS is highly secured, intact and cannot be compromised or hacked into, insisting that technology will be deployed to actualize a credible, fair and hitch-free general election in the country.
Yakubu noted that the initial challenge was the need for a clear-cut legal framework supporting the deployment of technology by the Commission, especially in the accreditation of voters and the voting process.
He had, however, identified the spread of fake news and misinformation in the social media space, describing it as a significant challenge the electoral body is confronting.