By Anietie Akpan
Two days before the October 5, 2024, Local Government elections in Akwa Ibom State, the Ethical and Attitudinal Reorientation Commission, (EARCOM), has called for a massive voters’ turn out as it reiterated the call for citizens to shun all forms of political violence during, before, and after elections.
Speaking on Wednesday as a guest on Update Akwa Ibom, a current affairs programme on Comfort 95.1 fm, Uyo, the Head of the Media and Advocacy Unit of EARCOM, Dr Osondu Ahirika, said the message of peace and non-violence has become apt especially as many parts of Nigeria are embroiled in violent conflicts, insurgency and banditry.
This was contained in astatement from the media unit of EARCOM on Thursday.
Ahirika said, that under the leadership of Dr Dorothy Thompson, “promoting the concept of peaceful resolution of every conflict and the principle of non-violence has been core objective pursued by the Commission in the collective quest to attain a just, equal and egalitarian society”.
While commending Governor Umo Eno for his peaceful disposition and creating a level playing field for the 12 political parties reported to have fielded candidates to contest the October 5, Local Government election in the State, Dr Ahirika said “citizens must embrace a mind-set shift of intentionally being peaceful and pursuing peace at all cost with fellow men”, adding that “the virtues of tolerance, forbearance, patience and forgiveness in a bid to promote our common humanity”.
EARCOM also called on Election observers, security agencies and party officials to discharge their operations in line with the Electoral laws to ensure that a smooth and unimpeachable environment is achieved for the successful conduct of the polls.
He however urged them to observe Electoral laws by avoiding campaigning at the polling unit, displaying any material or clothing bearing the logo of any political party, vote buying, voter harassment or intimidation or unlawful disruption of the Electoral processes among others.
In a related development, Dr Tommy Enodien, a member of the Governing Board of EARCOM also featured on Akwa Ibom Rising, a public affairs programme aired on Inspiration 105.9 fm, Uyo where he equally drummed support for the determination of Governor Umo Eno to deliver a free, fair and credible Local Government poll come October 5.
While expressing the confidence of EARCOM in the preparedness of the Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commission, AKISIEC, to conduct a free, fair and credible election, Dr Enodien tasked voters to turn out in their numbers on October 5, 2024, to cast their votes which he said would count in determining the outcome of the Local Government polls.
Dr Enodien who thanked Governor Umo Eno for his unwavering support for EARCOM, stressed that, under Dr Thompson’s watch, the Commission has continued a multimedia and multi-sectorial engagement with the people in her mass sensitization, values reorientation and public advocacy campaigns towards eradication of social vices in the society.
He commended the the producers of the programme, Akwa Ibom Rising for giving EARCOM the platform to reach out to the masses and tasked them to keep educating the voters on the electoral process so that the outcome will be successful.
Dr Enodien charged candidates for the upcoming Local Government Election to imbibe the spirit of sportsmanship, stressing that winners should be magnanimous in victory while losers should gallantly concede in defeat as only one winner can emerge for each elective office contested for.
