Ahead of the June 21 governorship electons in Ekiti state, the Director General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr Mike Omeri, has called on contestants to avoid shedding innocent blood to earn victory.
Omeri emphasised the need for religious leaders to begin the preaching of the doctrine of tolerance and peaceful co-existence for the June 21 election to be free of bloodshed.
He gave the advice at a stakeholders’ forum organised by the agency in Oye Ekti in Oye local government area of Ekiti state at the weekend, and tasked traditional rulers to advise their subjects to do away with thuggery and put the interest of the state at heart during the electioneering campaign.
He said: “The conduct of a free, fair and credible election is the responsibility of all. Particularly, the religious leaders and traditional rulers must sensitise their subjects on evils that are associated with electoral violence.
“The youth and women groups also must be alive to their responsibilities. They should ensure that the young people are not recruited by politicians as thugs to destabilise the system.”
Also contributing, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Alhaji Halilu Pai, pledged that the Commission would be neutral and fair to all political parties in the conduct of the governorship poll.
He said: “We don’t have a favourite. Our commission is the umpire and we will ensure that we do what is right so that the outcome of the election will be acceptable to all stakeholders.”
The Chairman, Council of Traditional Rulers in the state, Oba Adamo Babalola, appealed to all external forces to stop meddling in the electioneering process and allow Ekiti people to decide their leader.
Oba Babalola, who is the Onitaji of Itaji Ekiti, urged the people to give room for peaceful electoral process and elect a leader that would bring development to the state.
