Ahead of tomorrow’s governorship and state assembly elections, the National Peace Committee (NPC) on Thursday said it was worried by open threats of intimidation and violence by certain elements using ethnic and religious labels to suppress voters.
The committee, headed by former Head of States Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, appealed to the security and law enforcement agencies to remain alert and bring to book anyone, no matter their position in society, who posed a threat to the peaceful conduct of the elections.
It encouraged all citizens not to be intimidated but to go out and exercise their “God-given rights”.
Abdulsalami, in a statement in Abuja, said the committee understood and appreciated that these were trying times for the country and its citizens.
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He said the committee was following up with the same appeal it made ahead of the February 25 presidential elections.
“Presidential elections have come and gone. However, problems have arisen from the process of the collation, transmission and release of the final results. This has generated the crisis that we now find ourselves in. Notwithstanding all this, we are pleased and encouraged by the matured attitudes of the candidates who contested the presidential elections.
“We are encouraged by the restraint they have exhibited and their commitment to seek justice through due process. This is in keeping with the spirit of the Peace Accord.
“We, therefore, appeal to the supporters of all the parties and our citizens to please follow the good example of their leaders and remain law abiding till the process is brought to an end.”
He urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to do everything possible to ensure that the elections are peaceful so as to gain the confidence of citizens.
