Ahead of the Saturday, September 21, 2024, Edo State governorship election, the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), in collaboration with the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room held a one day sensitization rally to sensitize the people of the State on the need to abstain from violence before, during and after the election with the Theme, “Vote, Don’t Fight, There’s Life After Election”.
The sensitization rally in which over sixty Civil Society Organizations, comprising Non governmental Organizations, NGO’s, faith based organizations and Journalists participated, was taken through the Kings square, some major roads before berting at the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Press Centre in Benin City.
The programme which was supported by the UK International Development was jointly organized and implemented by the African Network for Environment and Economic Justice, ANEEJ and the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room
Innocent Edemharhia, ANEEJ Programme officer, while addressing the rally, said the reason for the procession is to sensitise the people of the state on the need to be peaceful before, during and after the election and also to brief the journalists about their mission which is to preach a credible and peaceful election in Edo state
Edemhanria said, “We are out sharing the voting procedure and flyers to let the people know we do not want violence. Edo people can cast their votes without violence. We have a stake, that is why we are promoting peaceful elections.
He called on the Edo citizens, especially the youths to come out and cast their vote for the candidate of their choice without blood shed, adding that Edo state is a peaceful state and should remain so after the election.
He also advised the youths not to allow themselves to be used by the politicians whose children he said, are not in Nigeria, reminding them that election is a process to usher in development and not for the destruction of lives and properties.
The ANEEJ Programme officer also called on the INEC and the security agencies to ensure a free, fair, credible, and peaceful election in Edo state.
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Also speaking, former President of the Coalition of None Governmental Organizations, CONGO, and the chairperson, Nigeria situation Room, Abiola Daisy called on the Edo electorate to come out on Saturday to cast their votes to the candidate of their choice.
According to her, we believe Edo people can cast their votes for the candidate of their choice without blood shed, without shooting a gun, without anybody losing his or her life.
Anna Ojugo, representative of the Joint National of Persons With Disability, Edo state chapter, while speaking condemned election violence, especially on women and the disabled.
She said, “Persons with disabilities should be encouraged to come out to cast their votes without violence. We condemn violence before, during and after the election and youths should not be used as thugs”
Receiving the group, chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Edo State council, Comrade Festus Alenkhe, who received the group also appealed to the major stakeholders to allow a peaceful election in Edo state.
Comrade Alenkhe said he hopes to see an election where nobody will be shot, where people will vote peacefully the results will be counted peacefully and the winner will also be declared peacefully.
During the procession, flyers with various inscriptions like, “Vote Don’t Fight, There is Life after Election and Say No to Election Violence,” were shared to the people.
As the peace messages were shared to passersby during the rally, they were also being told to desist from being used by politicians to steal ballot boxes and not to take money from politicians as inducement to vote for them.
