Jonathan tasks Aregbesola, Omisore others on peaceful poll

by Femi Makinde

President Goodluck Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan has urged Governor Rauf Aregbesola of the All Progressives Congress; the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore, and other candidates participating in the governorship election in Osun State to ensure that the August 9 election is devoid of violence.

The President, who spoke through his Special Adviser on Inter-Party Affairs, Senator Ben Obi, said this in Osogbo on Thursday.

The Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Inter-Party Affairs organised a workshop for political parties in the state to sensitise them on the need to ensure that the election was peaceful and credible.

Obi said, “Osun State, all eyes are on you to address the tense political atmosphere and eschew politics of infamy. I, therefore, urge all participants at this workshop to rededicate themselves to the advancement of peaceful conduct during the coming governorship election and in subsequent elections.

“Since all political parties are signatories to the Revised Political Parties Code of Conduct which commits all political parties to peaceful conduct at all times before, during and after elections; it is the duty of politicians and political stakeholders to ensure compliance with this code.

“But we all know that more than the law, it is the personal commitment of political parties and candidates that can create the kind of peaceful atmosphere for the conduct of free, fair, credible and transparent election that we all desire as a nation.”

He also charged the Independent National Electoral Commission to ensure that the election was free, fair and credible in order to win the confidence of the people.

“Those with constitutionally allotted and specified roles in electioneering and electoral roles should be able to carry out their duties without blemishes for the electorate to have confidence in the result proffered and accept that the election has been free and fair and the elected person is the choice of the majority,” he added.

The Vice President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Issa Aremu, in a keynote address delivered at the workshop, said the establishment of an electoral offences commission to prosecute anybody caught committing electoral fraud would curb election rigging in Nigeria.

@punchng.com