TheCable

The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) has asked security operatives to avoid partisanship in Saturday’s governorship election in Edo state.

At a press conference on Thursday, Idayat Hassan, director of CDD, called on all stakeholders to play by the rules towards ensuring a free, fair and credible poll.

The role of security in the election remains to deter trouble makers, protect election materials and ensure the space is safe for poll officials, voters and election observers. CDD calls on the security operatives deployed in Edo state not to engage in any act, which would intimidate or scare voters away from exercising their democratic right to vote,” Hassan said.

“CDD similarly calls on the officers of the police and sister security agencies deployed to the state to ensure they do not descend into the arena of partisanship. CDD calls on the high command of the police and other security agencies to ensure there is no gap between the numbers of deployment and the officers on the ground.”

She said the election is another opportunity to assess the commitment of relevant actors and institutions in deepening Nigeria’s democratic experience.

“The Nigerian state, political actors, and the institutions responsible for the management of the electoral process owe a collective duty to ensure eligible voters are free to exercise their franchise in an atmosphere that is both peaceful and participatory,” she said.

“Our expectation, which is in line with the hopes of citizens in the state and across Nigeria, is that the election is credible, its processes transparent and the outcome reflects the will of the people.

“Any breach to electoral laws and regulations must be sanctioned and we are in support of due process mechanisms visa bans, threats of assets seizures and other sanctions targeting election riggers and those who engage in attempts to subvert the genuine will of the people by the United States and United Kingdom governments.”