...let the process be free, fair, credible in Edo state
As political parties put finishing touches on their campaign plans for public consumption ahead of the September governorship election in Edo State, it is pertinent to once again re-echo the need for the will of the people to materialize with hope high that the votes may count.
Political combatants, lieutenants within and outside the state that will directly or indirectly have influenced on the incoming election should not forget to play according to the rules of the game with a view to having violent free exercise come September 19.
In reemphasising the need for a peaceful election in the forthcoming governorship election in Edo state, the Governor of Sokoto State who is the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Governors’ Forum, Aminu Tambuwal have advised political actors in the state to shun violence and embrace peace. This he said became necessary because of the violence that occurred at the entrance gate of the palace of Oba of Benin on the day the PDP was to flag-off their campaign in the state.
PDP governors and other chieftains led by their national chairman, Prince Uche Secondus had visited the Oba of Benin, Ewuare II to pay homage and seek for royal blessing when the incident occurred, with sporadic gunshots which lasted for several minutes leaving over fifteen persons with various degrees of injuries.
According to Tambuwal who spoke in Benin city recently, he appealed to various political parties participating in Edo governorship election to continue to encourage their supporters to restrain from attacks geared at each others.
'With what happened at the Benin Monarch’s palace where the ugly incident happened, leaders and supporters of the PDP were attacked during the flag-off of our campaign. That is a sign that the political party is planning violence. Leaders of the various political parties with the interest of Edo State at heart should speak to their followers and make sure the election is free and fair'
Speaking with Mr Omonuwa Agho, a legal practitioner in Benin city, the state capital told FACTSREPORTERS that both state and Federal goverment should see the need to shield their sword, all for the purpose of allowing peaceful poll.
He said electoral process in Nigeria should not be seen as as do or die issues rather a process of bring the good to position.
'Election is just a one day exercise while should will die for an exercise that is just for one day, our children should decline being used for electoral malpractice.
'We have extant laws that takes care of electoral manipulations which involves ballot snatching and result manipulations regarding election.
'Campaigns in Nigeria for instance, in Section 94 ( 1 ) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended ) says, 'For the purpose of the proper and peaceful conduct of political rallies and processions, the Commissioner of Police in each state of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja , shall provide adequate security for processions at political rallies in the states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja'
'To forestall violence in Section 227, No person or association shall retain, organise, train, or equip any person or group of persons for the purpose of enabling them to be employed for the use or display of physical force or coercion in promoting any political objective or interest or in such manner as to arouse reasonable apprehension that they are organised and trained or equipped for that purpose.
'Section 95 of the Act prohibits certain conduct at political campaigns . Subsection ( 1 ) says; No political campaign or slogan shall be tainted with abusive language directly or indirectly likely to injure religious , ethnic , tribal or sectional feelings ”; ( 2 ) says , “ Abusive intemperate , slanderous or base language or insinuations or innuendoes , designed or likely to provoke violent reactions or emotions shall not be employed or used in political campaigns ”; ( 3 ) “ Places designated for religious worship , police station , and public offices shall not be used : ( a ) for political campaigns, rallies and processions; or ( b) to promote , propagate or attack political parties , candidates or their programmes or ideologies.
'In Subsection ( 5 ), No political party or member of a political party shall retain , organise , train or equip any person or group of persons for the purpose of enabling them to be employed for the use or display of physical force or coercion in promoting any political objective or interest or in such a manner as to arouse reasonable apprehension that they are organised , trained or equipped for that purpose'
Political characters in the state must adhere to the rules of the game; the electorates must be given opportunity to cast their votes for the candidate of their choice without intimidation, and they must let their votes count come September 19.
According to the Former Nigeria President, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, postulated in the bid up to the 2015 presidential election, that his political ambition does not worth the blood of any Nigerian and before the final result appeared at the national collation centre he has accepted defeat from the main opposition, placed a call to the then candidate of the PDP and consequently handing over power to the winner.
In Edo State the political ambition of any of the contenders does not worth the blood of any Edolites. Please allow our vote to speak for us.
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