CEHRD Calls For A Free, Fair And Violence Free Election

‘’The Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development (CEHRD) enjoins all voters to go out and perform their constitutional duties by voting their preferred candidate. As we hope that INEC will conduct a free and fair election today Saturday 28th March, 2015, we affirm that the political parties, their wards and different actors involved must stop this wanton display of violence at polling booths, and rather embrace peace in support of the work of the commission,’’ .

‘CEHRD calls on politicians to abide by the Wednesday, 14 January 2015 Abuja Peace Accord where 14 political parties including the APC  and PDP presidential candidates were among others who signed against political violence with such agreements subsequently signed in the states. We want to remind political party leaders, party supporters and well-meaning Nigerians, that politics is a means of enthroning custodians of the people’s common wealth, for the overall benefit of all. As such it should be played with every sense of decorum devoid of religious, ethnic and all forms of primordial sentiments.

With the heightened political atmosphere, and reported happenings nationwide as the election commences, we urge all Civil Society Organisations and the media to maintain the necessary neutrality and work towards the actualization of the Abuja Accord and other non-violence electoral peace acts towards achieving a peaceful and free and fair poll. The media and the CSOs should not be perceived as supporting a particular candidate or political party as this will only heat up the polity and spell doom for our nation, CEHRD said.

We call on the security agencies to guard the Nigerian voters and prevent violence and unnecessary waste of lives of citizens. All security measures should be employed to apprehend suspected persons and groups who are and will disturb the peace of the election and country.

CEHRD advises that electoral officer should do their best and conduct a free, fair and credible election. All voting must be done within the ambits of the law as the law prohibits the use of inflammatory languages and provocative actions or manifestation that can incite violence against another party or candidate. All must join hands to make this election a peaceful one and probably the best Nigeria will experience till date.