The National Association Of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP) has urges all the political parties’ gubernatorial candidates, their parties supporters and Security agencies in the forthcoming Ondo State 2020 Governorship Election scheduled to hold tomorrow Saturday, 10th October, to conduct themselves in a peaceful manner as no live is worth the victory of any of the contending candidates and their political parties.
At its general meeting held over the weekend, the National President of the association, Mr. Oki Samson said it important to ensure that the election is conducted in Peaceful environment.
“A free, fair and credible election will produce the best choice of the Ondo People, as such, qualitative and progressive governance will be guaranteed”, Oki emphasised.
“This message has become necessary considering the recent violence and breakdown of law and order across the state in the past few weeks”. “The physical attacks among the members of the Political Parties is worrisome and should be condemned in totality”, Oki reiterated.
NAOSNP advised the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) to set its Personnel and the necessary logistics in motion. It also asked the electoral body to provide a level playing field for all the candidates and their political parties as this will ensure the credibility of the Poll.
It will be recalled that, candidates participating in the October 10 governorship poll in Ondo state had signee a peace pact few days ago to ensure a violence-free election.
Rotimi Akeredolu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Eyitayo Jegede of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Agboola Ajayi of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), and other candidates signed the peace pact facilitated by the National Peace Committee (NPC) on Tuesday.
They all pledged to shun violence during the election and avoid actions that may undermine the peace accord.
The signing of the peace accord was witnessed by Mohammed Adamu, inspector-general of police; Mahmoud Yakubu, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC); and traditional rulers from the state.
Others in attendance were Abdulsalam Abubakar, former head of state; Sa’ad Abubakar, Sultan of Sokoto; Matthew Kukah, Catholic bishop of Sokoto diocese, and John Onaiyekan, former Catholic archbishop of Abuja.
Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP M.A. Adamu, NPM, mni has for the umpteenth time, warned politicians against actions and utterances that could be inimical to a free, fair and credible election.
In a press statement by the force spokesman, DCP Frank Uba, the IGP warns that the full weight of the law will be meted out to anyone, no matter their status in society, who engages in any electoral fraud such as political violence, vote buying, ballot box snatching, hate speeches and all other unwholesome practices capable of undermining the peace and stability of the electoral process.
Similarly, the IGP has charged all Police Officers and other law enforcement agents deployed for the election to act in accordance with the Electoral Act and other extant laws guiding their overall conduct before, during and after the elections. He warns that Police Officers and officers of other law enforcement agencies found acting contrary to their oaths of office or in aid of illicit electoral practices will be strictly and personally held liable with dire legal consequences.
Meanwhile, the IGP has reassured the people of Ondo State that adequate security measures have been deployed to ensure their safety throughout the period of the gubernatorial election and beyond. He reiterates that there have been adequate deployments in terms of manpower, marine and aerial surveillance and other assets of the force to ensure effective security coverage. He therefore enjoins all eligible voters to come out en mass to freely and peacefully exercise their franchise in line with their civic obligation, without any fear of intimidation on the day of the election.
In his remarks, the National Secretary, Mr. Olabode Adeyeri said “As a Security Association, it is our responsibility to offer Practical and workable suggestions to ensure a violence-free electoral process”. He advised the the Nigeria Police and other Security Agencies deployed for the poll to act in accordance with the electoral Act, imbibe the spirit of professionalism and shun all acts of favouritism during the discharge of their assigned duty.