The Nigerian Guild of Editors has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to deliver on its promises to conduct successful polls.
The body also called on the security agencies and other stakeholders to live up to expectations in ensuring that the presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for Saturday, February 25, and the governorship/states Houses of Assembly polls slated for March 11 turn out successful.
This was contained in a communique signed by its President, Mustpha Isah, and the General Secretary, Iyobosa Uwugiaren, at the end of a meeting of its Standing Committee in Abeokuta, Ogun State on Saturday.
“Nigerians desire that their votes will count and are expectant of free, fair and credible elections, devoid of violence. We call on INEC to make good its promise of early deployment of electoral materials to polling units on election days and ensure its personnel, in their conduct, do not deviate from the provisions of the Electoral Act and other laws guiding the elections.
“The NGE notes that all eyes will be on the operation of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and urges the electoral body to ensure that the devices are in top shape, to perform optimally and actualise the intended purpose of their introduction during the elections,” the communique added.
The NGE also noted the important role of the security agencies in achieving free, fair and credible elections, urging them to be unbiased and ensure that voters are able to exercise their franchise freely in a peaceful atmosphere devoid of intimidation.
Expressing concern over the activities of some political parties since the commencement of the ongoing campaigns, the editors advised political parties and their candidates to play by the rules and impress on their supporters the need to avoid violence before, during and after the polls.
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