Ekiti State indigenes in the United States have called on politicians across party lines not to resort to violence and bloodshed in the next governorship election slated for July 14 in the state.
They also advised the Independent National Electoral Commission to protect the electorate by not subverting their will and allow the vote of the people to count to avert the crisis that could slow down progress and development in Ekiti.
The body, Ekiti Coalition for Change, the Ekiti in the Diaspora, also said allowing the will of the people to prevail would help stabilise the system and fast-track development.
In a statement from Washington DC by the group’s Coordinator, Mr. Samuel Ayodele, the body urged all the parties, particularly the two frontline parties, the All Progressives Congress and Peoples Democratic Party, to field candidates that would do the state proud after winning the election.
Ayodele pointed out that politicians must have a retrospect of the political instability that dogged the state after the 2007 elections, which he said led to the death of many innocent people and wanton destruction of multi-million naira property, by approaching the coming election with caution and civility.
He said, “Politics should not be seen as a do-or-die issue, it is a civil process that has rules and regulations that must guide politicians. The electoral process is backed by the Electoral Act and I think our politicians must abide by these rules, if truly they are contesting to protect the people’s interest. After the 2007 elections, Ekiti became turbulent for three and half years, owing to the long-drawn election petition between the PDP and the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria. Many are yet to recover from injuries inflicted on them during those pulsating times.
“Many of the aspirants contesting in our dear state have travelled far and wide. They had at various times domiciled in the United States of America, Britain, Canada and countries that have attained advanced democracies. We appeal that they bring the experiences garnered in those countries to bear in this election. Reading or hearing the news of people being killed and property being set ablaze because
of elections were saddening to us and such horrendous news shouldn’t reverberate in this election.”
Ayodele further called on the electoral body not to allow itself to be used by election riggers, describing electoral manipulation as a crime against God and
humanity.
