Polls: Group Decries Growing Violence In Kogi, Imo, Bayelsa

Global president of Ready To Lead Africa Godbless Otubure has raised the alarm over growing violence in the three states that will be holding off-season governorship elections on November 11, 2023.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, yesterday, Otubure warned that the governorship elections in Kogi, Bayelsa and Imo states are threatened by violence and harped on the need to avert such a scenario.

Otubure said the group is resolutely committed to being a catalyst of change and refuses to remain passive witnesses to the recurring specter of electoral violence that haunts these states.

He added that their unwavering dedication to forging a peaceful and democratic society compelled them to confront these pressing issues head-on.

Citing what he called sobering statistics ahead of the polls, Otubure said Kogi and Bayelsa States have witnessed a distressing surge in electoral violent incidents, leading to 10 tragic fatalities and 129 cases of violence.

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He said Kogi, in particular, accounts for 66.21% of these cases spreading like wildfire across its 21 LGAs.

“Equally troubling is Bayelsa, which recorded an alarming 66.7% surge, with Yenagoa, Ekeremor, and Sagbama emerging as the hardest-hit areas,” he said.

In Imo State, he said the situation is even worse with violence in the state ranking higher in volatility and election-related tension than Kogi and Bayelsa, and standing prominently among the top 10 most volatile states.

“It follows closely behind states like Lagos, Rivers, Akwa-Ibom, and Cross River.

These statistics are more than mere numbers; they are ominous warning signs that threaten to disrupt the forthcoming gubernatorial elections,” he said.

He said ReadyToLeadAfrica has taken proactive steps to address this burgeoning crisis and are embarking on a crucial peace initiative and launching Youth Against Electoral Violence Accord (YAEVA) project in these states. He added that their foremost objective is to amplify the clarion call for peace and to implore all candidates to pledge their unwavering commitment to nurturing a peaceful electoral environment.

“We wholeheartedly call on all candidates to embrace this vital message of peace and to honour the invitations we have extended to them. In the coming days, we will conduct a momentous signing ceremony of the youth-led peace accord, wherein candidates from across the political spectrum will come together in their respective state capitals to make this solemn commitment.

“Together, we can turn the tide of electoral violence and pave the way for a future where democracy thrives, unmarred by the shadows of violence and discord,” he said.