By Bode Akinbode
Ahead of the forthcoming gubernatorial elections in Kogi ,Bayelsa and Imo States slated for this Saturday, November 11, 2023, the Coalition Of Pro- Democracy Groups For A Better Nigeria has warned against violence and electoral malpractices by stakeholders.
A statement issued by it’s National Coordinator ,Comrade Awa Bamiji and made available to newsmen at the weekend, warned political thugs, hoodlums, election riggers, unknown gunmen and bad eggs among officials of Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) and security agents to steer clear of the three States during the polls saying “there is no hidden place for them”
It urged all eligible citizens to come out enmasse to exercise their civic right to elect their leaders without any form of intimidation and harassment by supporters of political opponents.
The statement reads in parts; “While we call on the electorate to go out enmasse
“ We, the June 12 activists, are master of the games when it comes to policing elections in Nigeria for three decades running. The usual gimmick, lies and propaganda of the opposition and all enemies of democracy have continued to fail them day by day, a word is enough for the wise”,
The Coalition Groups , founded in 2009 inside Rockview Hotel, Festac Town, Lagos State, congratulated it’s teeming members within and outside Nigeria “as well as our focused supporters for the historic success of our two – months vigil at the Unity Fountain Square, Abuja, in defence of mandate given to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, our longstanding leader of decades, mentor of all seasons and true ambassador of the civil societies and the electorate, which was staged as peaceful protest against the call for election cancellation and Interim Government by the opposition before May 29, 2023 Presidential inauguration.”
“In the same spirit of Aluta, we must all make sure that our eyes are everywhere, before, during and immediately after the next Saturday’s gubernatorial elections coming up in Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa States.
“Out of these three States, we must remember that the only PDP State, which is Bayelsa, was won by Chief David Lyon of the APC during the last Gubernatorial election in the State but the Supreme Court ruled otherwise, giving the victory to the sitting Governor, Duoye Diri, of the PDP, barely 24 hours to inauguration based on discrepancy in the names written on the credentials of the
“The interpretation of this is that, the State still belongs to the APC considering the strength of the electorate, the ultimate deciders of where the free and fair election result swings,” it concluded
