Abdulsalami committee meets top politicians ahead of supplementary polls

The National Peace Committee led by Abdulsalami Abubakar, former head of state, has met with party leaders in Benue and Bauchi states to plead with them to peacefully accept the outcome of the supplementary elections.

The committee during the meeting on Wednesday urged political leaders to educate their followers on why they should conduct themselves peacefully as they await the outcome of the elections.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will organise rerun elections in five states on Saturday.

The electoral body had declared the governorship elections held on March 9, in Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Kano, Plateau and Sokoto states inconclusive, and subsequently fixed March 23 for run-offs.

With barely two days to go, the police have beefed up security in violent-prone states in order to ensure a peaceful conduct of the supplementary elections.

The military also warned its personnel against unlawful involvement in the supplementary elections.

Hakeem Otiki, general officer commanding (GOC), 8 Division of the Nigerian Army, Sokoto, gave the warning while taking over the command of the Division.

Otiki cautioned officers and soldiers against involving themselves in the coming supplementary elections without proper authorisation from army headquarters.

According to him, any officer found leading men to any town or polling station without permission will be investigated and sanctioned accordingly.