Why 14 guber-aspirants in Lagos signed violence-free document

  By Emmanuel Udom

Lagos state police commissioner, Kayode Aderanti on Wednesday appealed to politicians and political parties in the state to run violence-free, but issues based campaigns.

The appeal is coming against the backdrop of violence, bloodbath and clashes reported during the campaigns of the some political parties in Lagos penultimate week.

Speaking during a stakeholders meeting between politicians, security agencies, officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) and registered political parties in the state, Aderanti   said these times call for statesmanship from politicians where they are not expected to be sentimental.

His words: Political parties and politicians should educate their supporters on the need to held  play by the rule and shun violence, thuggery and other forms of public nuisance that are beginning to rear their ugly heads in Lagos.

The Lagos CP further disclosed that the Lagos state police command will not tolerate violence, bloodbath, character assassinations, mudslinging and name calling, saying that politicians at various levels in Lagos should concentrate on issues based campaigns.

While assuring that the police and other security agencies are neutral and non partisan, Aderanti however said that the security agents are prepared to play by the rule of checkmating violence, ballot snatching, political killings, bloodbath, before, during and after the elections.

Akin Orebiyi, Resident INEC commissioner for Lagos state in his submission said that some people who complain about the perceive inadequacies in the elections plans of the electoral body were still yet to collect their Permanent Voters Cards.

He assured that INEC is ready for the forth-coming elections, even as he disclosed that some 68million eligible voters have collected their PVCs.

The high point of the meeting was the signing in the presence of the security agents of a peaceful, violence-free document by the chairman and governorship aspirants of all the registered political parties in the state.