Anambra Guber: TMG Calls For Credible, Peaceful Elections
Gidado Shuaib
POLITICS DIGEST – As the nation prepares for the Anambra governorship election on Saturday, a foremost independent civil society election observation organisation in Nigeria, Transition Monitoring Group (TMG), has called for a credible and peaceful guber poll in the state.
A statement signed by the Chairman of the group, Comrade Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, encouraged voters in the state to turn out and vote in the election, as it is an opportunity for Anambarians to exercise their democratic rights and choose their leader.
Rafsanjani also noted that it was the duty of the security agencies to ensure a hitch-free and credible election in the state without creating an atmosphere of fear.
“Security agencies should live up to the principles of impartiality, neutrality and statesmanship during the election,” he said.
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The TMG boss, who doubles as the Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and chairman Board of Trustees of Amnesty International, urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to exhibit neutrality in the conduct of the election.
“The electorates, INEC, civil societies and traditional rulers are all urged to support a peaceful process. The TMG will closely observe the electoral process and report any suspected case of violence and irregularities to relevant stakeholders,” he said.
Comrade Rafsanjani, however, noted that though the pre-election seasons witnessed a lot of violence which marred campaigns in some parts of the state, appealed for calm during the exercise.
“Though we witnessed a lot of attacks during the build-up to the elections, it is necessary that we discourage the involvement of non-state actors in the political sphere, as damages will hinder the growth and development of the state.
“I also appeal to the media to monitor and report every irregularity that takes place in the election, and most importantly, stay safe and be watchful as they carry out their engagements.
