Immediate past governor of Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, on Thursday, called on Nigerians to ensure violence-free general elections, saying that the elections should not be a do or die affair.
BIGPEN NIGERIA (www.bigpenngr.com) reports that Uduaghan made the call in a statement he personally signed and made available to journalists in Warri, commercial hub of the state.
He called on Nigerians to exercise their right to vote for their new choice candidates in the general elections but must do so without resorting to any form of violence.
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Uduaghan said that with the PVCs, Nigerians would be able to vote their choice candidates, starting with the Presidential and National Assembly elections.
The results, according to him, will produce mainly fresh hands to occupy the various offices being contested for, expressing optimism that hopefully, the fresh hands will produce a new Nigeria.
Uduaghan, however said that in the run-up to the general elections, the campaigns have been intense with participants and their supporters criss-crossing the country, states, local governments, wards, voting units and even homes.
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He said that in the media, including the social media, the campaigns have also been quite intense.
While saying that the international communities have taken keen interest in the campaigns and upcoming elections, particularly looking at how the country would surmount the twin challenges of transparency and violence, Uduaghan averred that as Nigerians, “the responsibility to handle these challenges is in our hands
“
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The former governor, therefore urged all contestants vying for various elective positions not to take the poll as a do or die affair, but rather vote peacefully for the new Nigeria.
He said; “The elections should not be a do or die affair. The spirit of winning at all cost must be discouraged. Resorting to violence is evil and devilish. A lost election today, can be won at a future election. However, a lost life today can never be brought back.
“I am therefore using this medium to appeal to us all to be transparent and avoid any form of violence. We have experienced too much violence in Nigeria and Delta State in particular. Let us go and vote in peace. A peaceful election is a win for us all”, he added.