Ogun CSOs plan strategic engagement with candidates ahead of 2027 - Punch Newspapers

Civil society organisations and media groups in Ogun State have unveiled the Ogun 2027 Conversation, an initiative aimed at promoting issue-based campaigns, accountability and peaceful participation ahead of the 2027 general elections. The organisers said the platform would bring together governorship and senatorial candidates, the Independent National Electoral Commission, security agencies, traditional and community leaders, youth and women’s groups, persons with disabilities and other stakeholders to discuss issues affecting the state. The initiative was endorsed by representatives of the Peace Initiative Network, Community Education Advancement of Peace and Development Initiative, Consumer Protection Advocacy Initiative, Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, Joint Association of Persons with Disabilities, Women Against Violent Extremism, Donmary Human and Community Enhancement Initiative, Civil Liberties Organisation and Global Support for Kids Initiative. Addressing journalists on Monday in Abeokuta, the National President of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, Yinka Folarin, who also doubles as the chairman of the Ogun 2027 Conversation, said the platform would provide an opportunity for candidates to explain their visions and policy priorities directly to the electorate. Folarin said the initiative was a non-partisan platform designed to move electoral discourse away from personality-driven campaigns, political rhetoric and violence to policies, programmes and measurable commitments. He added that the initiative would ensure that candidates seeking the governorship and senatorial seats under political parties recognised by INEC were given equal opportunities to engage voters, subject to the applicable electoral and nomination processes. Folarin said the discussions with political candidates would focus on good governance, accountability and transparency; human rights and security; youth development and employment; education and healthcare; economic development; infrastructure; and local government administration, among others. He said security agencies would equally be invited to discussions on preventing political violence, protecting voters and electoral officials, maintaining neutrality, safeguarding citizens’ rights and developing early-warning and early-response mechanisms. Folarin explained that “The OGUN 2027 CONVERSATION is a joint initiative brought together by Civil Society organisations working on Human Rights, Democracy, Peacebuilding and Sustainable Security, in collaboration with Media Organisations’, to facilitate sustained, inclusive and non-partisan engagement ahead of the 2027 general elections in Ogun State. Court adjourns suit challenging David Mark’s ADC leadership 2027: Seadogs call for electoral offences court How police helped woman secure N300,000 surgery debt waiver – Ogun CP “The initiative is conceived as an issue-driven platform for dialogue, public accountability and democratic engagement, providing space for meaningful interaction among political candidates, electoral institutions, security agencies, civil society, the media, traditional and community leaders, youth, women, persons with disabilities and the wider electorate. “The OGUN 2027 CONVERSATION recognises that credible, peaceful and inclusive elections are not the responsibility of political parties and electoral institutions alone. “They require the collective commitment of all stakeholders whose decisions, actions and conduct will shape the quality, credibility and peaceful outcome of the 2027 electoral process. “A major component of the initiative will be a Civil Society and Media Conversation with candidates seeking the governorship and senatorial seats in Ogun State under political parties duly registered and recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), subject to applicable electoral and nomination processes. “The platform intends to provide an equal, credible and transparent platform where candidates can articulate their visions, policy priorities, programs and commitments to the people of Ogun State” Folarin said Ogun State could demonstrate that electoral politics could be conducted through dialogue rather than division, issues rather than insults, ideas rather than intimidation and peaceful competition rather than violence. He added that “The 2027 elections must be more than a contest for political offices. They must be an opportunity for the people to interrogate the quality of leadership they desire and the future they want for Ogun State.” He described the Ogun 2027 Conversation as a “call to collective responsibility” and urged stakeholders to participate in the process. Taiwo Bankole

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