2019 polls: National Peace Committee tasks stakeholders on conduct

Ahead of the 2019 general elections, the National Peace Committee under the chairmanship of former Head of State, General Abdulsalam Abubakar, has urged all stakeholders to avoid overheating the polity and play by the rule to ensure the success of the elections.

Abubakar made the call on Tuesday in Abuja at separate meetings with the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof. Mahmood Yakubu and Service Chiefs; and another meeting with the leadership of the registered political parties.

He said the committee decided to interact with stakeholders following the way the polity is being heated up ahead of the 2019 elections, stressing the importance for politicians to eschew violence and bitterness.

The meeting was also attended by the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah; former Vice President Ebitu Ukiwe and the Primate of the Anglican Church and Archbishop of Abuja, Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, among others.

“As 2019 approaches, we should all work together to consolidate the achievements from the 2015 elections. Only then can we confidently speak of the maturation of our young democracy.

“We are all aware that we are approaching the 2019 election and already you are very much aware how the polity is being heated as a result of which we have decided to step up our action in ensuring that there is peace in the country and the politicians play by the rule of the game and also the security agencies and the INEC play their role accordingly,” Abubakar said.