Foreign observers, under the aegis of the International Police Chaplain Sustainable Development and Law Enforcement (IPCSL), have urged aggrieved political parties and their candidates to go to court to challenge the results of the March 18 governorship and state assembly elections.

The observers also counselled Nigerians to preserve peace and stability.

IPCSL’s head Johaness Makouvia gave the advice on Monday in Lagos while delivering a preliminary statement of the election observation mission on gubernatorial and state assembly elections.

“In any case, candidates and political actors are urged to resort to legal channels in case of contestation and to privilege political dialogue in all circumstances to sustain social peace,” said Mr Makouvia.

He said working to preserve peace and stability would ensure consolidated democracy and the rule of law, especially in a challenging socio-political context.

Mr Makouvia commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), domestic and foreign observers, civil society organisations (CSOs), various political parties and Nigerians for making the governorship and state assembly elections possible.

“Some acts of violence were recorded in Lagos state. These acts of incivility are by no means to be encouraged and do not show the exemplary character of the citizens who perpetrated these acts,” said the observers. “Therefore, the IPCSL mission reminds all sons and daughters of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that they remain the main actors in the development of their country and have an imperative to be natives of peace in all the states of their nation.”

The observers recommended that INEC continue interacting with political parties and CSOs to strengthen the national social fabric.

Mr Makouvia said the mission deployed 182 election observers in all 36 states and each of the six geo-political zones of the country, who met with stakeholders active in their deployment areas and observed voting and counting operations.

(NAN)