IPAC hopeful of peaceful election

Amidst anxiety, the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has expressed the hope that the election will be peaceful.Chairman of the state chapter of the council, Mr. Omotayo Ilesanmi disclosed this yesterday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).He expressed the hope that the election would be free of violence, despite the fears expressed by stakeholders in the election.

According to him, the atmosphere in all parts of the state has been peaceful, with politicians and their supporters conducting their activities without violence.“Even though I hear people talk about tension in Ekiti because of Saturday’s election, I want to say that it is mere rumour.“There is no problem in Ekiti, as everybody is going about his or her business even with the peaking of political activities,” he said.

He explained that what had been witnessed in the state is that the political parties and the candidates have been showing strength with their crowds of supporters. That is clearly politics, and not tension.

According to him, feelers indicate that Ekiti is ready for the election, and “we are optimistic that it would be peaceful, free and fair.”Ilesanmi said IPAC had continuously engaged political parties and candidates on the election and had received the commitment of all to peace.He disclosed that the council also had assurances from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that it would conduct the election without let or hindrance.

“The main focus now should be voters’ education, so that the electorate could participate in the process and make their democratic choice.“At the IPAC, we have been sensitising the people on the need to partake in the election and vote right,” he said.Also speaking, the Chairman of IPAC in Lagos, Mr. Kola Ajayi, urged politicians and their supporters to shun violence before, during and after the election.

He told NAN that it is only when the poll is peaceful that Ekiti people could claim to have freely exercised their democratic right.Ajayi urged the security agencies to provide adequate security during the election to ensure that it was peaceful.“People should conduct themselves peacefully and shun do-or-die politics. We contest elections to govern living people, not those who are dead,” he added.