Ahead of the 2023 general elections, the Director – General of National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies(NILDS), Professor Abubakar Sulaiman, has admonished Nigerians to vote candidates into various offices based on competence and Integrity.
The DG boss made call in Abuja Wednesday at the end of a three-day Capacity Building Workshop for Legislative Aides in the National Assembly.
He urged Nigerians to resist the temptation of voting candidates with questionable character saying, “the character of anyone seeking political position should be a vital ingredient of electioneering campaign.
“We are vanguard in the area of ensuring that persons with good character emerge as leaders.
“For us to get it right in this country as a people, we must set aside the issue of primordial sentiments.
“We must set aside the issue of money in campaign and in electioneering process; we must look at competence; we must look at character, we must look at ability of the various candidates.
“People’s perception should not be judged or based on your kin or kit, it shouldn’t be based on primordial sentiments.
“It shouldn’t be based on languages or religion. It should be based on wether the candidates identified or paraded by the party can do the job.
“Character is key, competence is key. And to a large extent, the fear of God is fundamental.”
He added that with the challenges of insecurity, unemployment, underdevelopment, joblessness and a lot of other malaise facing this country, the electorate should vote candidates with capacity.
