The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to ensure that election materials arrive early for the November 11, governorship polls in Kogi, Bayelsa, and Imo states to avoid violence.
Umar Bature, the National Organising Secretary of the PDP, said this at a People’s Townhall on Election Security in Abuja.
Bature also called on the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to find those responsible for election-related violence in the three states.
Bature stressed the need to pinpoint the instigators of election-related issues in these regions by Friday to diminish the potential for violence.
He said, “In my opinion, the ring leaders of these crises in these areas should be identified before Friday to further deflate this violence.
“Coming to INEC one of the key issues that bring violence is late arrival of election materials. Sometimes, it is a strategy with the political party that is stronger in the areas. They (INEC officials) bring election materials late so that the election can drag on late into the night and that brings about violence.
“The issue of election materials coming on time is key and now the police deploying (officers) and identifying these ringleaders in all the areas that we have identified as flashpoints.
“There are people who are already planning for violence. So, the security agencies should look at the template they have so that before they act, they are already there to protect the voters.”
Meanwhile, Bature said that if President Bola Tinubu keeps his promise of not favoring any candidate in the elections, it could lead to a noticeable reduction in violence before, during, and after the polls.
Kanyi Daily recalls that Bola Tinubu made a heartfelt appeal to all candidates participating in the forthcoming gubernatorial elections on November 11 in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi states to ensure that the elections are fair and free.
