By Chimezie Godfrey
#TrackNigeria: A coalition of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) from Kogi Central on Thursday in Abuja called on politicians, community leaders, youths, women and voters to ensure violence-free elections during and after the exercise.
They made the call at a Media briefing aimed at Peaceful Co-existence Pre & Post 2019 General elections with the theme, ‘Peace in Kogi Central a Necessity for All.’
The President General of Ebira People’s Association, Dr. Abdulrahman Musa Adeiza recalled that electoral violence in the past had not only brought them backwards but also created hatred among the people making the successor generation of their people vulnerable and innocent victims of these actions.
He observed that announcement of unofficial results constituted a violation of the extant electoral laws, and therefore advised all political parties, candidates and their agents not to announce election results ahead of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Adeiza said that recent killings, attacks, hate speeches and violent campaigns by some party candidates were signs of threat to peace, and must be arrested forthwith.
“We call on all sons and daughters of Ebira as a matter of necessity to unite and work together for the peace and development of our land.
“Governments at the state and local government levels ditto traditional, political and opinion leaders should ensure adequate security and regular monitoring of the elections for peaceful coexistence.
“We urge the state and local government to as a matter of urgency, deploy the recently launched security surveillance system across the state, and particularly Kogi Central to help arrest any related violence or crime in the land.
“And as Community Based Organizations (CBOs), Civil Society Organizations, (CSOs), we shall not only work for the peace and well-being of the people and the area, we shall partner with relevant security institutions to ensure adequate and constant monitoring of this development,” he said.
The Round-table was jointly organized by Ebira People’s Association (EPA), Proudly Anebira (PA), Association of Ebira Professionals (AEP), and Ebira Youth Congress (EYC).
