Unarguably, one of the critical factors for the conduct of free, fair, credible and successful elections is the provision of a peaceful environment.
Analysts, however, observe that such atmosphere is in short supply in some cases in Nigerian elections, resulting in the continuous postponement of such elections.
For instance, the legislative re-run elections in Rivers were postponed from July 30 to December 10 due to security threat that authorities thought could render the elections invalid.
Expression concerns about cases of inconclusive elections across the country due to violence, threat to security of lives and property, stakeholders solicit adequate peaceful environment for future elections.
Apparently reacting to this observation, the Senate, in a unanimous vote had on November 2, resolved to suspend plenary if the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) failed to conduct the elections in Rivers as scheduled.
Also, Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi, the Chief Press Secretary to INEC chairman, said out of the 141 elections conducted during the administration of INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu, 120 elections were concluded at the first ballot.
“`The remaining ones including that of Rivers that could not be concluded due to violence and other forms of electoral crimes.
“In the case of Rivers, elections were not concluded because of violence; in March this year, when the Rivers elections were first held, violence was widespread and the exercise had to be suspended.
“Some individuals lost their lives, including a National Youth Service Corps member who was serving as an ad hoc staff,’’ Oyekanmi said.
At the time the elections were suspended, voting had ended in certain constituencies with the winners declared, while in some areas elections had been concluded but collation of results had not been completed.
Shortly after the suspension, INEC expressed readiness to conclude the elections if the stakeholders, especially political parties and their candidates could guarantee peaceful conduct during and after the elections.
In an earlier stakeholders’ forum in Abuja on June 30, INEC had agreed that the elections should be held on July 30.
This agreement notwithstanding, comments by political actors in the state before the date, arson and attack on INEC office at Khana Local Government Area on July 22 by unknown persons and resulted in further postponement to December 10.
As the elections draw closer, the commission and concern stakeholders have been advocating peaceful conducts among party members.
Oyekanmi observed that some unscrupulous elements in the society had again begun to make false allegations, provocative and dangerous comments.
“We appeal to stakeholders to henceforth refrain from making pronouncements that could either overheat the state or instigate their followers to violence.
“We also appeal to all the political parties and their supporters to abide by all the extant laws governing the electoral process,’’ Oyekanmi said.
He also reassured all Nigerians that the commission remained impartial and committed to conducting credible, fair and transparent elections.
In the same vein, the Nigeria Election Working Group, a civil society organisation, challenged politicians in Rivers to show a high level of commitment to improving the country’s electoral process by ensuring that the re-run elections were peaceful.
The convener of the organisation, Prof. Adele Jinadu, said that the prolonged difficulty in conducting legislative elections in the state was an embarrassment to the country.
He blamed the situation on the behaviour of political parties and their leaders in the state through hate speeches, threats and beating of drums of war over the re-run elections.
He appealed to the security agencies to provide a level playing field by ensuring that everyone was secure.
“The people in Rivers have, for too long, been denied of their representations through the House of Assembly at the state level and at the National
