TOWARDS 2027 POLL SANITY: UNICAL GRADUATES ELITE CLUB, FCTA ACSS TAKE VOTER PEACE CAMPAIGN TO KUJE
By: Akuta Shedrack
As part of ongoing efforts to promote peaceful electoral conduct ahead of the 2027 general elections, the University of Calabar (UNICAL) Graduates Elite Club, in collaboration with the Area Council Services Secretariat (ACSS) of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), has extended its voter sensitization campaign to Kuje Area Council.
Led by the President of the club, Dr. Chioma Uzo-Udegbunam, the delegation visited Kuje over the weekend to educate residents on the importance of peaceful participation in the electoral process and discourage all forms of election-related violence.
The team began the visit with a courtesy call on the Gomo of Kuje, His Royal Highness, Alhaji (Dr.) Haruna Tanko Jibrin, at his palace.
Speaking during the visit, Dr. Uzo-Udegbunam said the campaign was aimed at encouraging residents across the FCT’s Area Councils to reject electoral violence and embrace peaceful democratic participation.
According to her, the FCT has maintained an enviable record of conducting peaceful elections without bloodshed, a feat she attributed largely to the leadership and influence of traditional rulers.
She commended the royal fathers for consistently guiding their communities towards peace and urged them to sustain the effort.
“We trust your capability and leadership. We keep telling our youths not to allow themselves to be used by politicians. They should vote peacefully and return home. They must reject ballot snatching and every form of electoral violence,” she said.
She also praised the Gomo of Kuje for preserving peace in the area before, during and after elections, urging him to continue providing the leadership that has kept the council peaceful.
Responding, the traditional ruler expressed appreciation to the FCTA, the UNICAL Graduates Elite Club and the entire delegation for the visit and their commitment to promoting peaceful elections.
Alhaji Jibrin noted that Kuje has consistently enjoyed peaceful electoral exercises because of the close relationship between the traditional institution and the people through district and village heads.
The royal father, a recipient of the Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR), reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that elections in his domain remain peaceful.
He stressed that elections naturally produce winners and losers, making violence unnecessary.
“After every election, one person must emerge victorious. There is no reason for violence. During the last Area Council elections, winners emerged and we all accepted the outcome peacefully,” he said.
He assured the delegation that the peace message had been well received and pledged that traditional leaders in Kuje would continue to mobilise residents towards violence-free elections.
Following the palace visit, the delegation moved to New Kuje Shopping Complex and Kuje Central Market, where they carried out open-air voter sensitization among traders, customers and other residents.
At the bustling Kuje Central Market, Dr. Uzo-Udegbunam interacted directly with traders and shoppers, encouraging eligible residents to register to vote before the registration window closes.
She also urged parents and guardians to caution their children and wards against being used by desperate politicians to perpetrate violence or disrupt the electoral process.
The residents welcomed the initiative, assuring the team of their commitment to peaceful elections and promising to encourage their family members to uphold the values of responsible citizenship.
The outreach, which attracted enthusiastic participation from traders and market patrons, reinforced the importance of maintaining peace before, during and after elections.
The UNICAL Graduates Elite Club and the FCTA Area Council Services Secretariat are expected to continue the sensitization campaign in other Area Councils across the FCT in the coming weeks.
