A group, Rivers Peace Initiative (RPI), has urged candidates of political parties in the state and other political actors to shun actions that will ensure that campaigns are devoid of negative trends, which characterised past elections.

The advice followed the lifting of the ban on the governorship and state House of Assembly campaigns by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The group, in a statement signed by its convener, Obinna Ebogidi, called on Rivers people to look beyond the antics of political actors and probe campaign promises of those seeking elective offices.

Ebogidi said the Independent National Electoral Commission, security agencies and well-meaning Nigerians have a duty to appeal to the conscience of Rivers State Government to desist from actions that appear to deny opposition political parties a level-playing ground and threaten the peaceful environment needed for credible polls to thrive.

He said: “We call on all actors to guide their utterances, contribute to the peace-building process and help rewrite our election narrative.

“We recall that on Friday, September 23, six frontline governorship candidates did sign an agreement and pledged to ensure they and their supporters refrain from acts capable of heating the polity.”

“Such measures should guide us to interrogate which aspects of these people’s antecedents rightfully suggests their current promises can be taken seriously.

“A logical means of assessing politicians should be through their commitment to policies that improve the quality of life, and it should be the issue around which other issues are based.”