Northern Elders, Ohanaeze, ACF Send Fresh Message To Nigerians Ahead Of Election

The Director of Advocacy and Engagement, Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Hakeem Baba-Ahmed; Secretary of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Murtala Aliyu; and the Chairman of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Council of Elders, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, made this known in a joint statement on Tuesday in Abuja.

The statement said the groups also reviewed the state of political campaigns and explore ways in which their groups can contribute to the emergence of leaders from credible elections as well as a peaceful transition to the next administration.

They said all voters must be availed the opportunities to freely exercise their political choices and that Nigerians living in all parts of the country must be encouraged to stay put under secure circumstances to vote and exercise their franchise.

They added that the government at all levels, security agencies, and host communities should give every Nigerian, wherever they live and work, assurances of their safety and the protection of their rights during elections.

The statement reads in part, “We urge our fellow citizens, who may be planning to travel to areas of origin, to resist every temptation to do so. Let them make their staying back a clear demonstration of real willingness to protect their rights to live wherever they are and participate in all election activities like all other Nigerians.

“Nigerians should be aware that these are defining elections, wherein leaders should be elected on the basis of competence and the capacity to drive our economic development, social justice, and political unity forward.

“We hold it as a sacred principle that no Nigerian should be penalized for holding an opinion or exercising his free choice within the confines of the law. We believe that it is possible to conduct these elections without violence or rupture to our deep roots in all parts of Nigeria. Indeed, we believe no one will benefit from the subversion of credible elections or a peaceful atmosphere under which they will hold”.