DR Uthman Abdulrahman Ajidagba, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) in Nasarawa State, has called on participating stakeholders in the 2019 general election not to see the exercise as a battleground, but a means to produce the nation’s leaders through peaceful electoral processes.
The commissioner, who called on politicians tens in tensing the political atmosphere through their speeches to know that this is not a war, but an election that must be fought at the polls through the use of Permanent Voter Cards by the electorate.
He made the call during an interactive session with stakeholders, comprising all the registered political parties in the state, security agencies, religious bodies, civil society groups, state NYSC office and the media on the 2019 General Election in Lafia on Monday.
Dr Ajidagba, therefore, cautioned political parties, candidates and their supporters to desist acts inimical to the success of the election.
He said, for INEC to conduct a peaceful election that would surpass the 2015 record of Professor Attahiru Jega, all stakeholders must play their role well void of violence and rancour, adding that, political parties and candidates in the election must call their supporters to order.
He said, as election managers, the commission in the state was ready and prepared for the election, and called on all the stakeholders to play the game in accordance to the role, and to invite God to have a say, as anybody or group wanting to have it by force or to disrupt their elections will make nonsense of their effort.
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“If only everyone will play his or her role in the elections, there will not be a problem in Nigeria election.”
“If truly we are Christians and Muslims that we claimed to be, we should know that election is not a do or die affair, we should know that it is God that gives power to whoever he wants at an appointed time.”
“It is the voters that will determine the faith of the candidates, not political parties, and that is why in voting, it should be done peacefully,” he said.
He urged the people of the state not to allow the peace been enjoyed in the state to terminates when the election comes proper.
According to Ajidagba, “without peace, it will be difficult for them (INEC) to achieve a meaningful result, because when violence breaks, the consequences will be on everybody.
He explained further that, “we have had instances where violence has consumed even the election managers, security agents, politicians, NYSC members who are the future of this country.”
He reminded the people to know that, only one vacancy was needed in Aso Rock out of the 73 people jostling for the president seat, as well as in Nasarawa State, out of the 29 people contesting for the governorship, only one person will be governor of the state and same with applicable to the 356 people contesting to the 24 House of Assembly in the state.