The NOA Director General, Garba Abari, gave the advice during a sensitisation programme held at the Ona of Abaji Palace on Friday in Abuja.
The programme tagged, “Say no to violence: Achieving peaceful and credible elections through attitudinal change” is part of its agency’s advocacy and community engagements on the imperatives of a violence-free and credible 2023 general election.
The PUNCH reports that 18 presidential candidates will appear on the ballot for Saturday’s election.
However, the majority of Nigerians expect the race to be between the All Progressives Congress’s Bola Tinubu; Peoples Democratic Party’s Atiku Abubakar, and the Labour Party’s Peter Obi and a former Governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso, who is contesting on the New Nigeria Peoples Party ticket.
Abari, who was represented by the Director, Orientation and Behaviour Modification, Theresa Nnalue, cautioned youths against participating in political violence or thuggery before, during and after the polls.
According to her, no politician will allow his children to participate in violence but they will rather send other people’s children out to engage in violence before, during and after elections.
She said, “Elections has to do with selecting your representatives and leaders, people you believe and have trust in that will be able to carry out their promises and what you desire. These are the people you go out to elect as your leader.
“Also, for our democracy to run smoothly, there are basic principles which all of us must bear in mind. For democracy to strive, there must be citizen participation, political tolerance and free and fair elections.
“In the past, election violence such as thuggery, snatching of boxes and killings were rampant. From 2011 till date, up to 300 persons lost their lives during elections. Fathers, and mothers, please talk to your children, and warn them to eschew violence, we want to achieve a peaceful election.”
She further enjoined youths to secure their future by desisting from becoming tools of destruction in the hands of politicians.
Responding, the Ona of Abaji, Alhaji Adamu Yunusa, noted that his subjects are aware of the new electoral act and will not accept any form of violence or vote buying.
He said, “Our people know what to do, you don’t need to speak too much. We also want fair, free and credible elections.”
On the issue of violence, the first-class emir stated, “We have warned all parties involved and I don’t think there will be any problem in Abaji.”
