Geoffrey Anyanwu, Awka
Ahead of Saturday’s governorship and state House of Assembly elections, Nigerians have been urged to be peaceful in their conduct during and after the polls.
Giving the charge in Awka, a former military Head of State and leader, National Peace Committee, Gen Abdusalami Abubakar (rtd); the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Rev Mathew Kukah, and the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe asked stakeholders in the conduct of the elections to ensure fairness and peace.
They also urged politicians, monarchs, security agencies, civil society organisations, the media, and government to be committed to the peaceful conduct of the elections on Saturday.
In a joint address by Abdusalami and Kukah at a stakeholders’ meeting organised by National Peace Committee titled, “High-Level Dialogue on Peaceful Gubernatorial and House of Assembly Elections,” read on their behalf by the Deputy Director, Administration of The Kukah Centre, Mr. Duke Anoemuah, the duo urged the contestants in the polls to educate their followers/supporters to conduct themselves peacefully during the exercise, as it was only in a peaceful environment that elections could hold.
“We are here in Anambra State to extend to you the good people of the state an appeal made by the NPC for a peaceful conduct of election into the atate House of Assembly scheduled for Saturday, March 9, 2019.
“Our distinguished candidates contesting elections into the state House of Assembly are urged to eschew violence and hate speeches and strive to adhere to the peace accord which leaders of the various political parties willingly assented to in Abuja in December 2018 and February 2019, before the presidential and National Assembly elections.
“The goal of this forum is to sensitise and mobilise stakeholders towards peaceful elections. It is expected to build initiatives, and take measures to strengthen a mutual confidence among stakeholders and political actors, and to encourage peaceful resolution of any election-related disputes with utmost regard to the rule of law and due process.”
The Obi of Onitsha was represented on the occasion by Chief Okey Ononye.