Edo/Ondo guber: Atiku support group wants level playing ground for candidates

The Nigeria Youths For Atiku (NYFA), a support group of former PDP presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has urged President Bola Tinubu to ensure a level playing ground for all candidates in the forthcoming governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States.

The President of NYFA, Prof. Gold Emmanuel, made the call in a statement issued by the group’s Director of Publicity, Mr Dare Dada, on Thursday.

Emmanuel said that the off-cycle governorship elections would be another litmus test for the country’s democracy.

It was reported that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed the Edo and Ondo off-cycle governorship elections for Sept. 21 and Nov. 16 respectively.

Emmanuel also admonished the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)to ensure a level playing field for all candidates in the two states.

She said: “The sustainability of our hard- earned democracy will only be guaranteed under a peaceful atmosphere where citizens are allowed to exercise their inalienable rights to freely choose their leaders.

“Taking a cue from the recently concluded election of the United Kingdom where Labour Party won in a free and fair contest, it is expected that same is replicated in Nigeria at all levels.

“Holding elections in an environment where citizens are threatened by political thugs does not portray Nigeria to the international community in good light.

“Therefore, the President must ensure citizens are protected as they exercise their civic right.”

The president said that the group had thrown its weight behind Mr Asue Ighodalo, the PDP candidate for Edo and Mr Agboola Ajayi, party’s candidate for Ondo election.

She said that the group was reputed forb promoting good conducts amongst the supporters of Atiku Abubakar, both in Nigeria and the diaspora.

Emmanuel added: “We believe PDP has a tradition of fielding quality candidates with pedigree.

“The enviable credentials of our candidate in Edo, a seasoned financial expert and administrator, speak for themselves.

“In as much as we trust our people to choose the best candidates for the job, it is only wise to ensure the right environment, devoid of violence, such that voters choose freely based on their perception of the candidates, is guaranteed.

“We implore members of our party to continue to show their support for democracy across the country so that efforts of our heroes past will not go in vain as the worst democracy is better than the best military government.”

According to her, no price is too much to pay for an enduring democracy as the rights of the citizens can only be guaranteed under a stable democratic governance