…Calls On UK, EU, US, Others To Impose Stiffer Penalty On Poll Riggers
The Action Democratic Party, ADP, has called on the Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government to ensure that, free and fair elections are conducted both in Edo and Ondo states.
The ADP added that this will show loyalty and Buhari’s readiness to leave good legacy to the Nigerian people as he departs power in 2023.
In a statement signed by ADP’s National Publicity Secretary, Prince Adelaja Adeboye, the party said that stand alone elections have history of violence, malpractices and other forms of irregularities, despite concentration of resources for such elections.
The ADP however said that there should be no excuse whatsoever, for the Edo election slated for Saturday, September 19, across the 18 local government areas of the state, not to be peaceful, especially against the backdrop of the deployment of over 30,000 security agents for the election, adding that this huge presence of security agents should be adequate to guarantee the safety of the people and their franchises.
The party, in a
Prince Adeoye said that the expectations of Nigerians, in many of the elections, conducted by this administration, had fallen short of the tradition of free and fair elections, that brought President Buhari to power in 2015, adjudged to be the finest transition of power.
ADP said, “Nigerians will be happier, if the President can clearly instruct all those saddled with the upcoming elections, to conduct an election that will not bring disrepute to this government.
“The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the IGP have greater roles to play in ensuring that, a decent election is conducted.”
The party also called on all Edolites to conduct themselves in peaceful manner, insisting that election is not war.
Insisting further that a level playing ground should be provided for all candidates participating in the election, so that their own impacts can be felt, without intimidation of any kind, the ADP noted that, it is not a good tradition, where at every election, Nigerians will be afraid to exercise their franchise, because of the fear of violence, ‘federal might,’and other funny political behavior by the government in power; stressing that, the only way the gains of our democracy can be beneficial to both Nigerians and our partners across the world, is when free and fair elections are conducted.
The party commended the United States of America, USA, for slamming sanctions on election riggers, and called on the United Kingdom, UK; European Union, EU; and others, to increase the consequences and sanctions for election riggers in Nigeria.
