‘Violence may mar elections’

The Ebonyi State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria has condemned the spate of political violence in the state and said that if not checked, it could mar the April 2011 elections.

The CAN said that the situation had aggravated insecurity in the state and noted that the ugly development, which runs contrary to respect for the rule of law and religious values, was associated with the current electioneering campaigns embarked upon by political parties in the state.

In a communiqué issued at the end of the association’s meeting held in Abakaliki on Sunday, the Christian body called on both the state government and security agencies to collaborate and find a lasting solution to the menace of insecurity in the state.

In his remarks, the Chairman of CAN in the state, Emmanuel Nshii, condemned a situation whereby political violence was carried out to the extent of disrupting church activities.

Also, the association has urged Nigerians to vote for credible candidates in the general elections.

Osun State CAN Chairman, Mr. Abraham Aladeseye, in a statement on Sunday, said the outcome of the election will shape the future of the country.

According to him, “only God-fearing and honest candidates should be elected by the people. If we vote for notorious and dishonest politicians, they will set us back as a nation.”

Meanwhile, the South West Zone Chapter of CAN has identified electoral violence as the major threat to the success of the forthcoming April elections.

The association’s President, Rev. Joseph Akinfenwa, made the position of the group known in a statement made available to our correspondent in Ibadan, Oyo State capital on Sunday.

Akinfenwa observed that the huge funds already sunk into preparation by stakeholders especially the Independent National Electoral Commission and political parties might go down the drain if relevant authorities failed to address electoral violence appropriately.