The Special Adviser Political Matters to Governor Abubakar Sani Bello, Alhaji Nma Kolo has admonished political parties participating in the Magama/ Rijjau federal constituency of Niger state bye-election scheduled for February 6 to ensure that campaigns are devoid of blackmail, thuggery and calumny.
Kolo gave this advice in a statement issued in Minna at the weekend.
He explained that, although the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was disqualified from participating in the bye- election, government has the responsibility to ensure peace during the exercise.
He said, “Politics should be seen as a game not a do or die. Therefore, we should sell our parties and candidates without recourse to arm-twisting and brigandage.”
Kolo said that government has tried to maintain law and order in addition to ensuring peaceful coexistence by all residents of the state, adding that “we will therefore not allow what we have built over the years derail.”
He called on security agencies that will be deployed to the constituency to perform their duties professionally insisting that anyone caught violating the law should be apprehended and brought to justice.
The political adviser also urged youth not to allow themselves to be misused during and after the election so that they wouldn’t run afoul of the law.
It was learnt that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed February 6, for the bye-election
