Edo Polls: Faith Leaders Harp On Peaceful, Free And Credible Election[b][/b]

Ahead of the September 19, 2020 Governorship election in Edo State, Faith Leaders have called for peaceful conduct of campaigns during and after the election.

The call was made on Thursday in a statement issued to newsmen in Abuja after a meeting of the Interfaith Dialogue Forum for Peace(IDFP), co-chaired by Alhaji Kunle Sanni and Bishop Dr. Sunday Onuoha.

The Faith Leaders stressed that, ensuing from the ugly experiences of election violence in the country, with its negative outcomes, destruction of lives and property which later serve as a set-back to Nigeria's democracy, the Edo State election should not be marred by violence, adding that the coming election should remind people of the state and indeed Nigerians that they are one big family.

In the statement, IDFP called on citizens of Edo State to act responsibly and ensure that the conduct of the election is peaceful, credible and transparent, urging users of all social and mainstream media platforms to play significant roles in ensuring peaceful elections by being conflict-sensitive, disregarding hate and the use of inflammatory speeches that could trigger violence.

While calling on political party leadership and membership to ensure they control the conduct of their teeming supporters, IDFP enjoined political leaders to desist from inflammatory utterances that could incite fellow citizens to violence before, during and after the election just as it admonished all political actors to refrain from any speech or action that could jeopardize the democratic outcome of the election.

In the release, citizens of Edo state were also charged to be vigilant in the defence of their democratic obligations, exercise their rights by voting consciously in the best interest of the State and Nigeria at large.

IDPF also appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to conduct the election in a fair and transparent manner, expressing hope that if the outcome of the election becomes peaceful, it will serve as model for future elections in the country.

While identifying the role of security agents during elections, IDFP urged them to ensure that the atmosphere during the election is free from rancour and violence, and guarantee the safety of electorates at the poll.

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