BENIN CITY-The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and other political stakeholders have cautioned the 19 political parties participating in the forthcoming governorship election in Edo State against the use of hate speeches during their campaign rallies.
Edo State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr Sam Olumekun, Zonal Director, National Broadcasting Commission, Mrs Gloria Makinde and Commissioner of Police in Edo State Mr Chris Ezike spoke at a meeting of Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) with political parties and their candidates, Benin City, yesterday.
They warned while the electoral body and security agencies were doing their best to ensure that the September 10 election is free, fair and credible, recent attacks directed at certain personalities by some candidates and their respective party leaders were capable of misleading and inciting the electorate towards jeopardising the peaceful conduct of the exercise.
While condemning the frequent use of malicious statements by some political parties and candidates in ongoing rallies across the 18 local government areas of the state, they advised those affected to feel free to petition the media outfit responsible for the broadcast of such rallies.
In a lecture titled “Imperative of Adherence to Guidelines on Political Campaigns for Peaceful Election,” the Zonal Director of the National Broadcasting Commission, Mrs. Gloria Makinde, said that the NBC would continue to enforce sanctions on erring stations.
“That all perpetrators of breach of any electoral law should be sanctioned without fear of favour in accordance with the law”. They maintained.
INEC and the security agencies however assured of adequate security, neutrality and non-partisan in line with their rules of engagement.
The political parties also pledged to collaborate with INEC and security agencies to conduct free, fair, and violent free election comes September 10, 2016.
As part of resolution reached at contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, the stakeholders
Among security chiefs present at the meeting were the Director, Department of State Services (DSS) Mr Ibrahim Halilu, Commandant, 4brigade, Nigeria Army, Benin City Brig-Gen. B.A Raji and the state Comptroller of Nigeria Immigration Services Mr Adi David.
