•Commend INEC for peaceful exercise
Foreign Observers under the aegis of the International Police Chaplain Sustainable Development and Law Enforcement, USA, have marked the governorship election held in Lagos on Saturday, March 18, as free and fair.
They however, commended Nigerians and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), for the peaceful conduct of the exercise, particularly, in Lagos State.
The observers also commended Domestic and Foreign Observers, Civil Society Organisations, political parties, and other stakeholders, who showed the spirit of democracy and patriotism to make the election a success.
Head of the Police Chaplains Electoral Observation Mission in Nigeria, Ambassador Johaness Makouvia from Togo, gave the commendation yesterday during a news conference at Ikeja, Lagos.
International Police Chaplain Sustainable Development and Law Enforcement is one of the Foreign Observers accredited by INEC to observe the just concluded general election in the country.
Makouvia urged Nigerians, the federal government, political actors, and stakeholders to continue to promote peace and stability to consolidate democracy and rule of law in Nigeria.
“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 therefore, have an imperative to be natives of peace in all the states of their nation.
“The IPCSL Mission commends the Nigerian people, the central government, political actors, and all stakeholders in the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It urges them to continue to preserve the peace and stability to consolidate democracy and the rule of law, especially in a challenging socio-political context,” he said.
While describing the election process as free and fair in Lagos, Ambassador Makouvia, however, condemned the tribal sentiments and violence recorded in parts of the state and some of the 2,117 polling units visited by the Mission Observers, across the country, with a call for peaceful coexistence among all Nigerians.
He implored all aggrieved political parties to resort to legal means to seek redress in court, rather than fomenting trouble in form of protests.
Makouvia, who urged INEC to continue to interact with political parties, Civil Society Organisations to strengthen the national fabric as well as collaboration between various international missions, recommended increased voters and civic education for the sustenance of national peace.
The Mission deployed 182 observers from 13 countries including the United States, Denmark, Pakistan, Cameroon, Togo, Ghana and Niger Republic to 2,117 polling units across Nigeria during the 2023 general elections.
