Magnus Abe, the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Rivers, has called on other gubernatorial candidates to be peaceful during campaigns.

Mr Abe said this in a statement issued by his spokesperson Parry Benson in Port Harcourt. 

The SDP governorship candidate, who spoke during a thanksgiving service at St. Bartholomew’s Anglican Church, Bera in Gokana local government area, urged the other candidates to market their ideas to the people without fighting one another.

Mr Abe said he had better ideas that would convince the electorate that going with his party would lead the people to a better state.

“This is what I expect every candidate of other political parties to do in the 2023 campaign without tearing another candidate’s billboard or poster,” added Mr Abe. “Don’t beat up people who do not agree with you. Don’t fight them. Rivers state is for all of us. I believe that everybody who is contesting today is contesting because he desires to see a better Rivers state.”

According to the SPD governorship candidate, every political party must be “given space, when it is time, when the campaigns start,” to campaign for candidates of their choice.

“Now, the people of this country want to exercise their rights to choose leaders of their choice, they cannot do so except we create an atmosphere in which ideas can freely flourish,” Mr Abe stressed. “We must be peaceful in our conduct before, during and after the elections, and not to harass anybody, because everybody has a right to support whoever they want to support.”

Mr Abe also pointed out that job creation and meaningful engagements of youths would create a peaceful and progressive state and end insecurity.

(NAN)