Political parties and their various presidential and National Assembly candidates have been charged to calm their supporters, and desist themselves, from possible actions that can trigger unrest in their constituencies.
A civil society organization, Coalition for Good Governance Network, C2G-Network, gave the charge in a statement co-signed by its National Coordinator, Michael Musa and Secretary, Ajayi Olushola in Abuja on Sunday.
C2G-Network advised political parties, winners or runner-ups of the already concluded Senatorial and Federal constituencies elections to conduct their supporters peacefully and shun comments and or, activities that can disrupt the peace in their various domains.
According to the group, Nigerians who spent their time on the queue under the sun throughout yesterday deserve peace and rest of mind.
Thus, election winners’ supporters are admonished to kindly celebrate moderately, while their runners-up should take results in good faith, or consider constitutional redress at election tribunals for the sake of peace and tranquillity, rather than inciting, or engaging in violence .
“We commend INEC and all security operatives – the Nigeria Police Force, DSS, the Nigerian military, NSCDC and other security agencies, and indeed the EFCC and ICPC for the joint efforts to conduct peaceful and fair elections across the country, even in areas considered as dark spots.
“The introduction of BVAS in Nigeria’s electoral process has been embraced and welcomed as efficient technology that has further restored credibility to our electoral system and even made voting and collations of results less stressful and faster.
“Political parties, candidates, community stakeholders, supporters should therefore play their role by shunning post-election violence in their various states and constituencies. This should be considered as our contribution to our democracy as a nation.
“We should desist from alterations, public arguments, activities, intimidation and social media comments that can trigger crisis, particularly as Nigerians are in anxious mood awaiting the outcomes of the presidential and federal parliamentary elections,” the statement added.
The group equally called on INEC to hasten the collation and release of presidential election results without delay, saying such timely process will shut the space against fabrication and distribution of fake elections results as being witnessed across several social media platforms.
“It has become imperative at this moment to demand restraints from the political actors across all political parties against any utterances or acts that are capable of inflaming the polity at this very critical moment.
“Nigerians must resist the urge to be lured into undermining the whole essence of our democratic heritage since 1999, but be proud that through peaceful and patriotic conduct of elections, leaders they willingly prefer will be inaugurated to pilot their affairs within the life of the mandate given to them.”
C2G-Network then urged Nigerians not to hesitate in contacting the security agencies should they perceive or possess information that may suggest disruption of peace in any part of the country.