A civil society organization, the Bayelsa Mandate Forum, has called on the stakeholders in the forthcoming November 11 governorship election in Bayelsa State, to ensure a peaceful and credible conduct of the election.
BMF in a statement issued by its Chairperson, Esther Ikurite, said this in Abuja, while expressing worry over the recent outbreak of violence and the tragic killing of a Peoples Democratic Party supporter in the Nembe community area of the state.
The statement reads: “Our group has always cherished peace, unity and the spirit of brotherhood among our members and we have actively contributed to the development and progress of Bayelsa.
“However, the recent incidents of political violence have shaken our confidence and created an atmosphere of fear and insecurity.
“We strongly condemn any form of violence, intimidation and hate speech in the run-up to the upcoming Nov. 11 governorship election.”
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, Mrs Ikurite appealed to the law enforcement agencies to investigate the violence in the Nembe community and bring the perpetrators to justice.
According to her, justice must be served to prevent the recurrence of such incidents, and to ensure that those who resorted to violence were held accountable for their actions.
“As members of the Bayelsa Mandate Forum, we are committed to contributing positively to the development of our state.
“We look forward to an election process that is peaceful, transparent and reflective of the will of the people.
“We urge all political parties and their candidates to put the interests of the people of Bayelsa first and work together to ensure a peaceful and prosperous future for all,” she said.
