Babagana Kingibe, Nigeria’s special envoy to Chad and the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC), has called on candidates, political parties and the general public to uphold peace during the landlocked country’s presidential election.

The presidential election is scheduled for May 6.

In a statement on Sunday, Mr Kingibe urged Chadians to maintain the relative peace and good order demonstrated during the campaigns.

He implored Chadians to remain calm after voting and patiently await the announcement of the election results by Chad’s National Election Management Agency (ANGE).

The special envoy said any grievance that might arise from the polls should be channelled to the appropriate authorities.

“On the eve of the historic presidential election in Chad, I congratulate the transitional authorities in Chad, the Chadian people and all friends of Chad for the journey so far towards the country’s return to a democratic constitutional order through peaceful elections.

“As the LCBC’s special envoy to Chad and as mandated by the Summit of Heads of State and Governments, I and my team have, since May 2021, closely followed and accompanied the Chadian people and Government in their transition process.

“Throughout this journey, the Chadian people and the transitional authorities exhibited great patriotism, mutual tolerance, and the necessary spirit of compromise to change the Chadian narratives and now commit to building a peaceful, stable, and prosperous democratic country,” said Mr Kingibe.

He said the transition process had not been easy or without often heated contentions.

However, Mr Kingibe noted that Chadians confronted all the challenges, weathered all the political and security storms and were on the cusp of the final lap.

“Therefore, I call on all the presidential candidates, the political parties and leaders, and the general public to maintain the relative peace and good order demonstrated during the campaigns.

“I further urge that any challenges, complaints, or grievances that may arise be peacefully settled through the constituted electoral guidelines and laws or, if necessary, the judicial processes.

“The alternative is to risk the tremendous progress and the fruits of the great sacrifices already made by all parties.

“I wish to reassure of the continued support to Chad of the leaders of the LCBC as they look forward to the peaceful inauguration of a new democratic constitutional order in the country,’’ he said. 

(NAN)