The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Thursday, appealed to contestants and their media representatives to commit to issue-based campaigns and avoid insults and personal attacks as the election campaigns begin.

Buhari’s admonition comes a day after the official kickoff of election campaigns according to the schedule laid out by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

“I appeal to the contestants, especially their publicity agents and media advisers to shun personal attacks, avoid insults and incitement, reject the spread of fake news, and commit to issue-based campaigns and political rallies,” the President said in a video message to the signing of the 2023 election Peace Accord by the presidential candidates, organised by the National Peace Committee in Abuja.

This is according to a statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity titled ‘2023: President Buhari wants issue-based campaigns, urges political actors to shun personal attacks, incitements.’

While commending the initiative undertaken by the National Peace Committee to commit all political actors to issue-based campaigns devoid of incitement, personal insults and attacks, Buhari warned that the rise of fake news and misinformation have continued to pose a significant threat to democracy in Nigeria.

According to him, fake news and misinformation have shifted focus away from issue-based campaigns to amplifying the potential for personal attacks, insults and incitements.

He lamented that this has significantly diminished the civility and decency in public discourse and debate.

Re-echoing the words of the Chairman of the Peace Committee, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, Buhari said “The 2023 election is more than an election, it is an opportunity to serve Nigeria, to defend Nigeria and to uphold her unity and progress.”

“Therefore, I call on all Nigerians, political parties, politicians, security agencies, the Independent National Electoral Commission, and all stakeholders to ensure that Nigeria is placed first above regional and sectional claims.

“I appeal to the contestants, especially their publicity agents and media advisers to shun personal attacks, avoid insults and incitement, reject the spread of fake news, and commit to issue-based campaigns and political rallies,” he added.

Reiterating his commitment to peaceful, credible and transparent elections, President Buhari said what the Peace Committee, led by its chairman and a former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, has been doing over the years, aligns with his belief that Nigeria needs peace in order to achieve credible elections.

“Once again, let me emphasise that everything must be done to support the National Peace Committee in its work to ensure peaceful elections in Nigeria,” Buhari said.