The Peering Advocacy and Advancement Center in Africa (PAACA), has advised voters in Edo to remain confident in the electoral system and not be intimidated by those seeking to suppress turnout.
Its Executive Director, Mr Ezenwa Nwagwu, gave the advice in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.
The suggestion followed a flurry of concerns that had been raised about the refusal of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to sign a peace accord ahead of the Sept. 21 governorship election.
He said that while some had seen the PDP action as a recipe for violence, it was important for Edo residents to recognise it as partisan tactic to create fear in the minds of people.
“Politicians are known to deploy these type of tactics where they attempt to create an atmosphere of fear, discourage voters from exercising their democratic rights, and shift attention from the real issues. We must not allow this narrative to fly.
“Nigerians must understand that the peace accord is not a legally binding document. It is a persuasive initiative aimed at promoting peaceful conduct among political parties,” he said.
Nwagwu said that while the peace accord serves as a useful tool for promoting peaceful elections, it was not a substitute for legal processes that guide elections.
“Its absence does not equate lawlessness or violence.
“Regardless of whether a political party signs the peace accord or not, the duty of the police to enforce the law remains paramount.
“The electoral process in Nigeria is governed by the Constitution and the Electoral Act, not by moral agreements such as the peace accord.
“These legal instruments are explicit about the role of security agencies in elections. The Police Act, in particular, grants the police the authority to maintain peace and order before, during and after elections.
“This statutory responsibility cannot, and should not, be abdicated to a moral agent in the name of a peace accord,” he said.
Nwagwu said the police must remain steadfast in their constitutional duty, irrespective of whether a political party agreed to the terms of a peace accord.
He added that the peace accord was not a substitute for police duty to maintain order.
“It is merely a complementary initiative that seeks to morally bind political actors to peaceful conduct.
“The police, working in collaboration with other security agencies, must, therefore, deploy adequate personnel and resources to prevent violence and ensure that the election proceeded smoothly.
“Any failure in this regard will not be because of the absence of a peace accord, but due to a lack of commitment to fulfilling lawful obligations.
“Now, more than ever, we must focus on inspiring confidence in the electoral process. We must remind citizens that their vote counts and that the process is robust enough to withstand political gamesmanship.
“It is the responsibility of the police and other law enforcement agencies to ensure that voters feel safe and secure when exercising their civic duty.
“Politicians must not be allowed to create an atmosphere of fear to discourage voter turnout.
“We must call on the police, civil society and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to communicate this effectively to the electorate.
“Fear and voter apathy are enemies of democracy, and they thrive in environments where citizens lose confidence in the system.
“It is crucial that the police and security agencies step up their efforts to reassure the public that the election will be peaceful, regardless of the political noise surrounding the peace accord,” he said.(NAN)
