From Tunde Rahman, Lokoja
YIAGA Africa Watching The Vote, (WTV), has admonished the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), and political parties to develop a fictional communication and constructive dialogue to address challenges and requirements for achieving peaceful pre-election engagements, credible and peaceful elections on November 16 in Kogi and Bayelsa states.
This was contained in a statement signed by YIAGA Africa Executive Director, Samson Itodo and made available to News Hub Mag! in Lokoja.
It also charged INEC to step up its engagements with security agencies in tackling violation of electoral codes, buying and selling of PVCs, voter inducement and electoral violence indicators.
Toward a smooth electoral process, the group equally tasked security agencies, particularly the police to investigate and manage the report of alleged recruitment of thugs and stockpiling of arms, to avoid outbreak of violence in the coming election.
The statement reads in part, “Security agencies should investigate and arrest people engaged in buying and selling of PVCs, and any form of voters inducement, to serve as a deterrent to others.
“Security agencies should engage in active engagement and communications with citizens on the principles regulating security deployment and its operations ahead of the election.
“Political party candidates and supporters should shy away from any form of physical or verbal attacks to ensure credible and peaceful elections.
“All political parties, especially in Kogi state should increase their activities of engaging voters with their policy plan while soliciting their support and votes.
“Voters should get ready to vote with their PVCs and not sell it for short-time gain. Citizens should report any form of electoral malpractice or criminal act to INEC and security agencies, the police, to foster peaceful democratic transition.”
