Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa has called on politicians in the state to play by the rules, with the timetable for the 2023 general elections released by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

While presiding over the 68th State Executive Council meeting at the Government House, Yenagoa, Mr Diri noted that a permanent voter card (PVC) was the only weapon for electoral victory, as against guns and other instruments of coercion.

“We want to use this opportunity to encourage our politicians, especially now that the INEC timetable has been released. We should play by the rules and not see politics as a do-or-die.

“We should vote with our PVC, and that is why it is called civic responsibility. We do not need to vote with guns as if the election is a military operation,” he said.

Mr Diri, represented by his deputy, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, cautioned youths against making themselves tools in the hands of politicians to perpetrate election violence.

According to him, no true politician, who wants his people and democracy to develop in the country, will resort to violence in the pursuit of his political ambition.

Mr Diri advised youths in the state to realise that those encouraging do-or-die approach to elections would never allow their own children or wards to do the same.

“At the end of the day, such politicians will disappear after using them to achieve their ambitions and resurface when another election is approaching,” he said.

(NAN)