Ahead of the governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa, the Transition Monitoring Group, TMG, has urged the Presidential Committee on the Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons, the police and other security agencies to implement modalities to stem arms proliferation in places, such as Ofu Local Government Area (Kogi State) and Ekeremor and Kolokuma/Opokuma councils (Bayelsa State).
The Kogi governorship election has been slated for Nov. 21 with that of Bayelsa coming up two weeks later on Dec. 5.
TMG, in a statement in Abuja yesterday by its Chairman, Ibrahim Zikirullahi, enjoined candidates and their supporters in Kogi and Bayelsa states to shun incitement and electoral violence by sticking to issue-based campaigns.
The group urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), National Orientation Agency and civil society organisations to broaden their voter education campaigns to cover local governments in Kogi and Bayelsa states in accordance with their mandates.
It further warned politicians against use of derogatory languages and hate speeches, as the elections drew near.
“TMG condemns the use of hate speech, derogatory language and intimidation of people because of their personal demographics in the lead up to Kogi and Bayelsa elections.
“The fundamental human rights contained in Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, provide relevant safeguards to citizens in this regard”, the statement added.
