TheCable

A group known as The Network for Best Practice and Integrity in Leadership (NEBPRIL) has asked politicians not to mar Saturday’s governorship election in Edo state with inflammatory comments.

There has been tension between Godwin Obaseki, incumbent governor and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), and Osagie Ize Iyamu, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Two weeks ago, the Oba of Benin summoned the two leading candidates in the election to his palace and appealed to them to avoid heating up the polity.

But no sooner than the candidates left the meeting did they return to verbal attacks.

In a statement on Sunday, Victor Afam Ogene, chairman of NEBPRIL, said threats and verbal attacks are in contrast to the spirit of democracy.

He alerted the government to the danger posed by violent persons, urging that “the full weight of the law should be brought to bear on anyone or group, irrespective of status, that continues to engage in hate speech, vandalism and violence.”

“As a group that advocates integrity and best practices in leadership and public conduct, NEBPRIL is particularly worried that part of what has engendered this culture of violence is when key actors resort to the pouring of personal invective and attacks on opponents rather than projecting their manifestoes and programmes, “ the statement read.

“It is reprehensible and condemnable that opponents could go to the length of castigating the wife of one of the contestants for not having a child. We also have seen some candidates say they would return violence for violence. This falls far below the acceptable democratic standards expected of politicians, who in the first instance are aspiring to serve the people and the nation.

“This resort to taking away the cherished values of democracy and the freedom of participation and resorting to casting personal aspersions already inflaming the spirit of resentment and indignation, which could snowball into serious treat to the whole process and thereby ingrain prejudice and discontent.

“While we commend institutions such as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security agencies who have taken records of the hate speeches and violent behavior of candidates in the Edo election and have put in certain measures to ensure a peaceful poll, we urge them to raise the bar as the election date draws near to ensure that efforts already made to guarantee a credible election are not in vain.”

He called on INEC to address the perception that it lacks independence, impartiality and professionalism, “particularly in the application of electoral guidelines and transparency during the collation of results.”