GUBER POLLS: Vote your conscience, don’t allow ‘wrong candidates’ win, CAN tells Nigerians

With less than 24 hours to the governorship and house of assembly elections, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has counseled Nigerians to vote as their conscience directs them.

In a statement on Friday night, CAN President, Revd. Samson Ayokunle, called for free, fair, and credible state elections. He also reminded electorates of the need to avoid violence, bloodshed and all forms of electoral offences.

He said, “Saturday is the Governorship and State Assembly polls nationwide, with the exception of few states.

“All eligible voters with their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) should come out enmasse to exercise their inalienable rights without any fear of being intimidated.

READ ALSO: KANO: Abba Yusuf of PDP gets Appeal Court clearance to run for gov

“Let them vote according to their conscience. Not to vote is to allow the wrong candidates to occupy the position of leadership they did not deserve.”

He called on all politicians, security agencies, and the officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure a peaceful atmosphere before, during and after the election.

“Our politicians should avoid rigging, violence, vote buying, ballot box snatching and other electoral offences; our security operatives, especially the Police and the Army, must operate within the ambit of the law, while our youths should resist the temptation of being used to foment troubles.

“CAN urges all INEC officials and the security operatives involved in the conduct of the polls to remain impartial and apolitical before, during and after the poll.”

Ayokunle decried the performance of INEC in the presidential polls, saying the second phase of the general election should be better than the previous.

“We task them to ensure that the collation of results is free, fair, transparent, and accessible to all stakeholders. It is high time we told the whole world that our democracy has come of age,” he stressed.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now