INEC officials at work

Jethro Ibileke/Benin

Ahead of the September 10 gubernatorial election in Edo State, politicians in the State have been warned to shun all forms of hate speeches during their campaigns.

The State Resident Electoral Commissioner of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mr. Sam Olukekun, gave the warning on Tuesday during a meeting of Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) with chairmen, secretaries of political parties, governorship candidates and their deputies for 2016 governorship election in the state, held at the Police Officers’ Mess, in Benin City.

He said such could incite fears and discourage full participation of the electorate in the electoral process.

According to the REC, one of the inherent dangers in hate speeches and name callings during campaigns, was that it sends a very bad signal to the electorate who in turn would be wary of their safety and therefore, choose to boycott the election to the detriment of the political party.

He however noted that for the benefit of all, it is pertinent that the governorship candidates should strive to use more dignifying words and tell the electorate their plans rather than indulging in mudslinging and name callings during their political campaigns.

The state INEC boss further said the commission has done all in his capacity to ensure equity and fairness in its activities through series of programmes and stakeholders meetings being organized by the body with the view of fostering a peaceful and credible election in the state, which he said has resulted to peaceful primaries conducted by the 19 political parties biding to contest the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

Speaking in the same vein, the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Chris Ezike, urged the politicians to play by the rules, assuring that the police will remain neutral and ensure the safety of lives and property before, during and after the election.‎

He also assured the politicians that the election would remain one of the most peaceful elections in the state as the body would deploy all its resources to making it peaceful.

“The luck Edo State is having is that it is the only state having an election to conduct. And on this note, all our sisters agencies would be on ground to render helping hands to make it peaceful,” he said.

‎Ezike called on those having genuine complains to do so while stressing that parties having their political rally should notify the police before embarking on campaign to enable them provide them the adequate security they deserve.

The Zonal Director, National Broadcasting Commission, Mrs. Gloria Makinde, in a lecture titled: Imperatives of Adherence to Guidelines on Political Campaigns for Peaceful Election, remind all Broadcast Stations that their role is to foster national unity and that sweeping remarks made on air through it can cause great damage.

She therefore called on all stakeholders in the media industry and politicians to desist from making inflammatory statements that could further heat up the politics in the state, adding that they should bear it in mind that the state belongs to everyone and must work together to safeguard it.