FCTA tasks stakeholders on peaceful, credible polls

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has called on all stakeholders and other FCT residents to ensure peaceful coexistence before, during and after the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

The FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, made the appeal yesterday in Abuja, while addressing stakeholders on the imperative and gains of peaceful elections.

The minister noted that the administration had put necessary mechanism in place to guarantee peaceful elections.

Bello, who was represented by the FCTA Permanent Secretary, Mr Chinyeaka Ohaa, assured stakeholders that with the collaboration of security agencies and the electorate, the election would be violent-free.

He appealed to all stakeholders to always be on the alert and report any suspicious activity to the relevant security agencies for necessary action, even as they join the on-going effort towards ensuring peaceful elections.

While calling on residents to ensure they collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and properly safeguard them, the minister advised them to use their PVCs wisely to elect candidates of their choice.

He enjoined the residents to guard their minds from all fake news by cross check emerging issues in the media, especially social media.

According to him, as one people in one city, the pursuit of peace remained a collective effort that must be keyed into during and after the elections.

Bello also warned politicians against taking laws into their hands in a bid to win the various positions they were contesting for.

The minister said to ensure advancement of peaceful coexistence, FCTA had intensified sensitization of the public and the provision of adequate security before and during the polls.

He therefore tasked relevant authorities to ensure that rural areas within the nation’s capital were adequately manned by security operatives to avoid electoral violence.