Iduozee Paul, Benin
Ahead of the September 19 governorship election, a university don in the Department of Electronics and electrical engineer in Ambrose Ali University,( AAU), Prof. Robert Ehimen Okonigene, says the reason why there are chaos and violence in elections in Nigeria is because political gladiators encourage it.
He spoke at an event organized by the Conference of Non Governmental Organization (CONGOs), on “Stakeholders Peace Accord on the September 19th, 2020, Edo State Governorship Election,” which held in Benin City.
Prof. Ehimen said the gladiators are the ones arming their supporters because they are involved in the process of sponsoring the election. He said politics is not a dirty game but the players make it dirty.
Prof. Ehimen disclosed that politics is a game established by the Constitution and all should play by the rule. He said violence erupted in elections often as a result of the information the followers of various political candidates or leaders give out to their supporters and what they hear in various social media.
In her speech, president of CONGs, Comrade Daisy Abiola, said the event became vital due to the fear on the streets that security will not be guaranteed for the September 19, 2020 governorship election day.
Comrade Daisy Abiola, said the candidates are to sign peace accord documents and the signing of the peace accord will help people psychologically by generating the necessary assurance that the problem is recognized, and there are actions being taken to curtail them.
Chairman of the occasion, Dr. Peace Solomon Alufokhai, said that dealing with election violence requires a holistic approach. She said election violence has done Nigeria more harm than good and advised youths to embrace peace.
Representatives of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corp (NSCDC), DSC Omijie Odijie and the Nigerian Immigration Service ( NIS), DSI Donald Iserameiya, both said the security agencies are ready for the election.
They said anyone found fomenting trouble during the election will be dealt with according to laid down laws. They said they have been given a marching order to arrest those that want to cause trouble during polls in Edo State.
The State Director of the National Orientation Agency, Mrs. Ease Grace, advised all participants to observe all Covid-19 preventive measures during election.
Some political parties like APC, APGA, ADC and others partook in the event except the PDP and at the end of the occasion they signed peace accord documents.