Politics
THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged political parties and their candidates for the Nov.16, Bayelsa governorship poll to ensure peaceful conduct of the election.
Mr Monday Udoh,the state’s INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) disclosed this at a one day sensitisation workshop organised by Stakeholders Democracy Network (SDN) on Tuesday in Yenegoa.
The event was held in collaboration with INEC, United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF) among others.
Udoh, represented by the state’s INEC Head of Department of Election and Party Monitoring, Mr Chinedu Nwankwo, said the workshop was vitally important to get the cooperation of stakeholders preparatory to the election.
He explained that party agents required special enlightenment on their role in the electoral process particularly in curbing election violence at polling units.
“The workshop is organised for us to enlighten political party agents and to give them the code of conduct for them to know their importance and functions in the electoral process.
“They are to protect the interests of their parties and to make sure that the electoral process is free, fair and credible. They must also conduct themselves in the most acceptable way not to ignite crisis.
“Election is not war, INEC is poised to conduct a peaceful, free and fair election, that is what we stand for.
“ We are encouraging the candidates and their agents to comport themselves peacefully before, during and after the election.
“INEC doing all within its ability and powers to make sure that its vision and mission is achieved in the state on Nov. 16,’’ he said.
Udoh said that it was a collective responsibility of all stakeholders to ensure a violence free poll.
NAN
-Sep 24, 2019 @ 18:25 GMT |
Tags: Bayelsa Poll: INEC cautions political parties against violence
