The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has sued for peace ahead of the local government elections billed for Saturday, October 5, 2024, calling on all relevant stakeholders to work together to ensure a free, fair and credible election.

The Deputy Chairman of the NYCN, River State Chapter, Gift Jumbo, and the State Secretary, David Apiafi, made this call on Thursday, October 3, 2024 in a statement they jointly signed in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The Council urged politicians to approach the Saturday’s election with a mindset of adhering to the rules guiding it.

The Council called on politicians to desist from making inflammatory statements capable of inciting violence, emphasizing that such utterances could polarize situations and further deepen the political issues in Rivers State.

While warning political jobbers not to allow themselves to be used as tools to ferment trouble, the NYCN said Rivers people would not throw their weights behind political parties responsible in the event of such unpatriotic actions.

“ We call on politicians to play by the rules of the game, and we advise distractors who have labelled themselves enemies of the state to stop fanning the embers of discord through the instrumentality of destructive politics and shenaniganism. They should desist from making inflammatory utterances and carrying out destructive tendencies that could incite violence before, during and after the elections”.

Pledging its support to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), for a free and fair election, the Apex Youth body said it would expect the security agencies to carry out their functions professionally and ensure protection of lives and property.

The NYCN also advised the youths to make a difference by choosing the right leaders, rather than indulging in the use of social media space to spread hate.

The Council warned political parties and party leaders to caution their supporters during the polls, as unwarranted assaults and attacks would not augur well for the state.

“ This is the right time for the youths to make a difference, by choosing the right leaders. We must desist from being used as political tools of violence or as agents of hate through social media.

“ As the Apex Youth body, we reaffirm our commitment to supporting the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), to conduct free, fair and credible elections in the state come October 5, 2024.

“ We expect the security agencies to live above board and display a high level of professionalism, by maintaining peace and protecting lives and properties during the elections”.

While calling on the people to secure the future of the state, by coming out en masse on Saturday to vote for their choice, the Apex Youth body expressed optimism that the exercise would be peaceful throughout the state.