General Abdulsalami Abubakar-led National Peace Committee (NPC) has asked candidates to warn their spokesmen and supporters to make electioneering campaigns violent-free.
The committee expressed concern over the wave of violence at political rallies and decried the use of intemperate language, intimidation, and outright violence by party supporters.
The NPC said if not curtailed, the development could undermine the peace accord signed by all presidential candidates at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja, on September 28.
The NPC’s concerns were contained in a statement issued yesterday in Abuja.
It was signed by Gen. Abubakar (Chairman) and Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah (Convener).
The statement reads: “Nigerians are genuinely concerned, troubled, and disappointed by the conduct and attitude of some of the political actors in the last few weeks.
“Nigerians have been fed a menu of intemperate language, intimidation, and outright violence in the field of the campaigns.
“It is evident that some of our actors have not learned any lessons from the past. There is an increasing tone of desperation, if not incitement, among some of the contestants and members of their parties.
“Intra and inter-party wranglings persist, with occasions of violence. In desperation, some selfish political actors use these strategies to pursue their frivolous ambitions in the courts.”
