Former Nigerian president, Goodluck Jonathan, has urged the Nigerian police and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to allow voters in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states to choose their leaders peacefully in Saturday's offcycle elections.
Jonathan, who is from Bayelsa State, mentioned this on Friday in a statement he released on the X platform (formerly Twitter), while urging residents and politicians to avoid perpetration electoral violence and embrace the democratic process.
His statement reads: “As citizens of voting age in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States go to the polls for governorship election tomorrow, I urge all electorates and politicians to avoid violence and conduct themselves in a peaceful and lawful manner.
“Let us refrain from all activities that will jeopardize the collective peace and stability of our states and our country. A man who means well for his people would not recruit thugs to maim and kill the very people he wants to govern.
“Let me reiterate that nobody’s ambition is worth the blood of any citizen. Therefore, let us resist the temptation and inducements that may be deployed as agents of destruction. For democracy to endure and be impactful, we must ensure that the leadership recruitment process, especially elections, are credible, transparent, fair and peaceful.
“I urge the electoral management body, security agencies and other stakeholders to be professional and patriotic in the discharge of their responsibilities during and after the election. Democracy draws its strength from the people; let us work to strengthen the confidence of the people by ensuring that the electoral process is peaceful and transparent.
“It is the collective responsibility of all stakeholders to allow the people to choose their leaders peacefully. That way, our democracy will grow and become sustainable.”