…Says Ballot, No Bullet.
…To Collaborate With Security Agencies, Patriotic Citizens.
ANSIEC accredited Election Observers for Anambra State local government elections on Saturday September, 2024, have expressed commitment to check Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons prior, during and after the exercise.
Coordinator of the group, Prince Chris Azor while addressing newsmen at a Stakeholders’ engagement in Awka said that his team would collaborate with security agencies and other patriotic Citizens to ensure that the election was credible, violence free and peaceful.
The Human Rights advocate listed the strategies as pre-election environment monitoring, paying attention to potential hotspots and areas prone to violence, Voter Education and Awareness on the dangers of small arms proliferation and the importance of peaceful elections, through community outreach programs and public awareness campaigns.
This according to the group would be implemented in collaboration with Security Agencies,
to ensure that voting centers are secure and free from arms, Incident Reporting and Documentation.
There would be intentional and deliberate Post-Election Monitoring of the environment to prevent potential violence and ensure a peaceful transition, through observation of voting centers and hotspots.
Comrade Azor emphasis that the mechanisms have become imperative considering the present worrisome security challenges in the State and indeed the Southeast Region.
“Proliferation of small arms has contributed to electoral violence, banditry, terrorism, and kidnapping and sundry criminality” he said.
The group said it would mobilize over one hundred Observers across the State, and set up a Situation Room Coordination Centre in Awka, capital City for real time collaboration and timely reportage of activities during the exercise, for desired result.
“We hereby, urge Political Parties and candidates to commit to Promotion of peaceful conduct, Stakeholder engagement and non violence” he said.
“Security agencies should maintain neutrality, fairness and impartiality while preserving human rights and rule of law” Azor continued.
He enjoined accredited election Observers to conform to the code of conduct and eschew all forms of interference with the electoral process.
“Eligible voters should exercise their franchise peacefully without any let or hindrance”
“We hereby, urge Political Parties and candidates to commit to Promotion of peaceful conduct, Stakeholder engagement and non violence,”
Security agencies should maintain neutrality, fairness and impartiality while preserving human rights and rule of law” he concluded.
The group commended the Election Management Body, Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) for demonstrating full preparedness and commitment to integrity of the entire exercise.
It therefore, urged Political Parties and candidates to commit to Promotion of peaceful conduct, Stakeholder engagement and non violence.
