Stakeholders and security agencies have called on political parties to shun thuggery and violence in the forthcoming elections.
They made the call during Stakeholders’ meeting with Political Parties on Election Security, organised by the Nigeria Police, Lagos Command, on Tuesday at Ikeja.
The State Commissioner of Police, CP Abiodun Alabi, in his opening remarks, urged all political parties to shun violence, ethnic disharmony, intolerance and other divisive measures capable of disrupting the forthcoming elections.
“Let all political parties conduct themselves in an orderly manner and educate their followers to shun thuggery, violence, hatred, intimidation and other misconducts.
“The police will make sure that the environment is safe before, during and after the election,” he said.
Alabi urged the public to see the police as a family and supply them with information with wrong doings in their vicinity.
“We work with information, cooperate with us, do not only see us as a friend but as a family member.
“We will ensure that your safety and security are guaranteed,” he said.
The CP also advised political parties to shun hate speech, spreading of fake news as it posed a threat to our security.
“Shun hate speech, misinformation and fake news as those can threaten the security of the nation,” he said.
Alabi also admonished political actors to shun vote buying, adding that political parties should not allow any form of intimidation.
The police boss said that anyone caught fermenting trouble would be prosecuted .
“Nobody will be spared, whosoever is involved in an unlawfully manner would face the law,” he said.
In the same vein, the Lagos State Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), Mr Segun Agbaje, advised all the political parties to denounce electoral violence.
“Shun electoral violence, thuggery and other forms of misconduct and also educate your supporters to do same.
“We want a free and fair election, let us get it right so that our nation will be free of embarrassment,” he said.
Agbaje advised the political parties to also shun hate speech and fake news as that might threaten the nation’s democracy.
Agbaje, who was represented by the Lagos State INEC Deputy Director, Mr Adebisi Ajayi, urged political parties to play the game according to the rule and be abreast of the electoral law.
According to him, everything is set, the Commission is fully prepared for the conduct of the elections.
He advised the political parties to persuade their supporters to go for their Permanent Voters Cards (PVC) so that they could be able to participate in the forthcoming elections.
Agbaje assured that all registered voters would get their PVCs.
Similarly, Lt.-Col. T. E. Fakokunde, representating the 9 Brigade Commander of the Nigeria Army, urged political parties to desist from violence in the forthcoming elections.
“It is important that we shun violence, thuggery and other forms of misconduct. We have no other country than Nigeria.
“Any action or threat will threaten the security of the nation.
Fakokunde urged political parties to live together in peace rather than in hostility.
Also, Commander C. O. Akokota, representing the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Beecroft, urged all political parties to join hand to fight thuggery and other forms of misconduct.
“Security is everybody’s business, let’s join hands to make Nigeria safe before, during and after elections,” he said.
According to him, the Navy will ensure that the election process is successful by providing security.
“We are willing to collaborate with other security agencies to defend the nation,” he said.
(NAN)
