The Shadanpama Grassroots Initiative, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) promoting violence-free elections, has appealed to the electorate in Kogi to shun violence in the forthcoming Nov. 11 governorship election.

The founder/chief executive officer of the initiative, Olufemi Akinbiyi, made the plea in a statement on Tuesday in Lagos.

Mr Akinbiyi called registered voters in the state to come out in large numbers to vote for candidates of their choice, saying that violence would do no one good.

“The initiative is one of the NGOs registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to carry the message of peaceful conduct in the off-cycle.

“It has carried out several campaigns against violence during the Kogi Gubernatorial Poll, especially in Dekina Local Government Area,” he said.

Mr Akinbiyi added that the initiative had embarked on several sensitisation and awareness campaigns to traditional institutions, youth groups, markets and others to plead with voters to shun any action that could inhibit credible election.

He recounted that the paramount ruler of Dekina, Usman Obaje, had also appealed to residents to be peaceful when the team paid him a courtesy visit.

“Election is not kill your neighbours or burn their houses; just go out and cast your vote for any political party or candidate of your choice,” Akinbiyi quoted Obaje as saying.

The founder, who urged all traditional rulers to champion the cause of peace, advised them to ensure their subjects did not engage in any form of violence and election malpractices.

He also urged traditional rulers to prevail on political parties and followers as well as various youths, men, women and religious bodies to maintain peace during the poll.

Mr Akinbiyi said: “We want people to come out in large numbers to vote without any fear of intimidation or harassment as adequate security arrangements will be put in place by the INEC.

“We enjoin all other traditional rulers to pass the message of peace to their respective subjects.”

He said that the initiative had also taken campaigns to markets, including Dekina central market and Ayingba central market.

According to him, flyers with various inscriptions in different local languages and English version has been distributed to the people.

Mr Akinbiyi urged parents to appeal to their children to avoid any form of electoral violence during and after the election.

According to him, electoral offences include intimidation of voters, holding more than one Voter Card, collecting ballot papers on behalf of others as well and attempts by unregistered or ineligible individuals to vote.

He added that the offences also included possession of offensive weapons, and snatching and destruction of election materials, among others.

INEC has fixed Nov. 11 to conduct off-cycle governorship elections in Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa.

(NAN)