Ahead of the governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states, the Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) has call for immediate stoppage of small arms proliferation to prevent violence and ensure success of the elections.
Chairman of TMG Ibrahim Zikirullahi said yesterday in a statement that there is an increase signs of tension and heightened risk for political violence in Kogi and Bayelsa states.
“TMG calls on the Presidential Committee on the Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons, the Police and other security agencies to urgently implement modalities to stem small arms proliferation in the country which are currently resurfacing in places like Ofu LGA in Kogi state; and Ekeremor and Kolokuma/Opokuma LGAs in Bayelsa state.
“TMG condemns the use of hate speech, derogatory language and acts of intimidation of people because of their personal demographics in the lead up to Kogi and Bayelsa elections. The fundamental human rights contained in Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, provide relevant safeguards to all citizens in this regard,” Zikirullahi said.
He therefore urged candidates, political parties and their supporters in the two states to shun incitement and electoral violence by sticking to issue based campaigns.
He also tasked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), National Orientation Agency (NOA) and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to broaden their voter education campaigns to cover all local governments in the two states.
