“This is the last leg” — Tinubu asks voters to shun violence during supplementary polls

 

Bola Tinubu, the president-elect, says voters should shun violence in the supplementary elections billed for Saturday.

 

Supplementary governorship elections will hold in Adamawa and Kebbi states, five senatorial districts, and 31 federal and 58 state assembly constituencies.

 

In a statement on Thursday, Tinubu, who described the scheduled supplementary polls as the “last leg of the 2023 general election”, said the exercise must be brought to a peaceful conclusion.

 

“I urge all Nigerians in areas where the additional polls will take place to eschew violence and conduct themselves in an orderly and peaceful manner,” he said.

 

 “We should desist from acts prejudicial to the conduct of orderly polls or that will threaten the very existence of the country. It’s only when there is a country that aspirants to political offices can have seats to contest for and the electorate have people seeking their votes.

 

“Like the INEC officers, the candidates and the electorate, therefore, have a solemn responsibility in this election. They must ensure that the additional polls are conducted not only freely and fairly, but also devoid of tension, acrimony, and violence that will threaten the very fabric that holds the country together.

 

“I must also use this opportunity to enjoin my All Progressives Congress members and the teeming supporters in the areas listed for the polls to come out in their large numbers to cast their votes for the party’s candidates.”

 

The former governor of Lagos said APC members should vote for the party to solidify the victory recorded in the earlier polls.

 

“This will no doubt help in the effective functioning of government at the federal and state levels for the benefit of our people,” he said.

 

“On this note, I wish INEC, all voters in the various polling units in these elections, the candidates and parties involved a very successful supplementary poll.”