Politics
A Coalition of Civil Society Groups and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) for peaceful and violence free election in Kogi has called for level playing ground for all candidates featuring in Saturday’s governorship poll.
The Coalition under the auspices of National Peace Campaign made the call in a communique issued by its Programme Director, Mr Valentine Ejeh on Thursday in Abuja.
Ejeh said once a level playing ground is provided; there will be peaceful and violence-free election.
He called on the Presidency to wade in and ensure free, fair and credible election, where the winner would be determined through the ballot.
He also called on the Inspector-General of Police (I-G) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that the process of the election was not subverted against the wish of the people.
He said the call was germane due to the increasing tension and looming political violence in the state that could be avoided by ensuring that right things were done during the election.
Ejeh said that the call was also important following series of attacks on members and leaders of opposition parties in the state.
He said that the solution to the already existing tension was to allow the will of the people to prevail in the election and not to force any candidate on the electorate.
He urged the international community, the United Nation Development Programme(UNDP), European Union (EU), British High Commission,the United States Embassy, the Republican Institute and lovers of democracy worldwide to pay attention to the election.
He also urged them to prevail on stakeholders in the election, especially security agencies and INEC as well as political parties and others to play the game according to the rules.
“We call on political parties and all the stakeholders to imbibe the principles of democracy by ensuring that there is no political violence, ballot box snatching and thuggery.
“This is important in order not to undermine democracy in its entirety and avert political violence.
“We cannot afford to turn the state to a theatre of war,” he said.NAN
– November 14, 2019 @ 18:30 GMT |
Tags: Kogi poll: Coalition calls for level playing ground for all candidates
