Abubakar tasks INEC, security agents on violence-free elections today 

The chairman of National Peace Committee (NPC) and former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd), has tasked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agents and other stakeholders to adhere strictly to the provisions of the Nigeria constitution and ensure that peaceful supplementary election is conducted in Adamawa State.

Abubakar who spoke yesterday in Yola during the town hall meeting organized by the NPC to interact with key stakeholders on peaceful conduct of the supplementary governorship and two House of Assembly seats elections in Adamawa insisted that elections can only be adjudged to be credible when it is free and fair without violence.

The former Head of State who was represented by Mr. Mathew Yari stated that NPC is an unbiased committee that is committed to building an enduring democratic culture in Nigeria.

He said that the immediate past elections were relatively peaceful, but that the elections exposed some fault lines in Nigerian states as there were numerous reports of voters’ disenfranchisement, inducement, violence and intimidation due to over-militarization of the process.

Speaking at the town hall meeting, the chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Bishop Catholic Diocese of Yola, His Lordship Dr. Stephen Dami Mamza, said that the Adamawa people would gladly make their choice through the ballot box, no matter the intimidation, because it is their rights.

The CAN chairman who was represented by the Catholic secretariat secretary, Rev. Father. Morris Kwaranga, advised the people to take prayers as the only key to achieve their aim of voting a leader that will listen to their cries.He said that church would continue to play its role to ensure that there is peace in the state and other parts of the country.

While entertaining questions from stakeholders, The INEC  Resident Electoral Commissioner in Adamawa State, Alhaji Kassim Geidam blamed violence during elections on insincerity of politicians who are found of making empty promises. On the issue of missing party logos on ballot papers, Geidam blamed political parties for not taking their responsibilities serious.