NOA warns Taraba politicians against hate speech ahead LG elections

The National Orientation Agency, NOA, has cautioned politicians and political parties in Taraba State against the use of hate speech and defamatory language as campaigns intensify ahead of the state’s upcoming local government council elections.
The warning was issued on Wednesday, by the state NOA Director, Mallam Zakaria Muhammad, during the official flag-off of voter education campaign ahead of the November 8 elections.

The Taraba State Independent Electoral Commission had scheduled the polls to hold across the state’s 16 local government areas.

“It has become imperative that we caution against hate speech and defamatory statements during campaigns by prospective candidates.

Campaign messages should be straightforward and guided by democratic principles devoid of personal attacks on opponents or political parties,” Muhammad said.

He emphasized that elections should not be seen as a “do-or-die affair” and urged candidates and their supporters to accept the outcome peacefully or seek redress through legal channels rather than resort to violence or self-help.

Muhammad highlighted the importance of voter education in ensuring citizens are well-informed about their rights and responsibilities during the election.

The NOA director called on all residents of Taraba to not only turn out to vote but to do so peacefully and responsibly.

He also assured the public of the agency’s continued engagement with key stakeholders including security agencies, media, traditional and religious leaders, and youth groups to ensure a peaceful and credible electoral process.

Commending TASIEC for the efforts so far made, Muhammad praised the commission’s transparency in preparing for the election and reaffirmed NOA’s commitment to monitoring the entire process to ensure credibility.

He also lauded governor Agbu Kefas for his unwavering commitment to democratic governance, particularly his decision to end the era of caretaker leadership at the local government level.

“By ensuring timely local council elections, the governor has demonstrated compliance with constitutional provisions and helped restore public confidence in grassroots governance,” Muhammad noted.