5th November, 2023
By Isa Isawade
The Coalition for A Better Nigeria, otherwise known as June 12 Veteran Activists, has warned against election violence and riggings in the forthcoming governorship elections in Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa states.
The elections are scheduled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to take place on Saturday 11 November 2023.
The Coalition said this in a statement released on Saturday which was signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Awa Bamiji and forwarded to P.M.NEWS in Lagos.
The body congratulated its teeming members in and outside of Nigeria on the success recorded over its unprecedented 2-month vigil at the Unity Fountain Square, Abuja, to press home for a successful handing over to the then President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu when Nigerians sensed a sinister plan by anti-democracy elements to scuttle the process.
It urged the electorate in the three states to act in accordance with the tenets of democracy and conduct themselves peacefully so as to allow the wishes of the people to prevail.
“We protected the mandate of our Leader of Decades, Mentor of all seasons and true Ambassador from the Civil Societies, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR when we staged peaceful protests against the call for election cancellation and interim Government by disgruntled opposition parties before the May 29, 2023 Presidential inauguration.
“In the same spirit of Aluta, we must all make sure that our eyes are everywhere, before, during and immediately after the next Saturday’s gubernatorial elections coming up in Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa States.
“Out of these 3 States, we must remember that the only PDP State, which is Bayelsa, was won by Chief David Lyon of the APC during the last Gubernatorial election in the State but the Supreme Court ruled otherwise, giving the victory to the sitting Governor, Duoye Diri, of the PDP.
“The ruling was based on the discrepancy in names written on the credentials of the APC Gubernatorial running mate, Senator Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo, who was then representing Bayelsa East in the Senate before his historic nomination.
“The interpretation of this is that the State still belongs to the APC considering the strength of the electorate, the ultimate deciders of where the free and fair election result swings.
“While we call on the electorate to go out en mass and cast their votes without fair and favour, we advise the political thugs, hoodlums, election riggers, unknown gunmen and bad eggs among the INEC and Security Agencies to steer clear of these 3 States during the election because there would be no hiding place for them.
“We, the June 12 Activists, are masters of the game when it comes to policing elections in Nigeria for 3 decades running. The usual gimmicks, lies and propaganda of the opposition and all enemies of democracy have continued to fail them day by day. A word is enough for the wise,” the Coalition warned.