Popular Nigerian artiste, Innocent Idibia (2Baba), has urged Kogi youths to be peaceful, civil and to shun violence during the November 16, governorship poll in the state.
Idibia made the call at a Peace Concert on “Vote Not Fight, Election No Be War”, organised by participation Initiative for Behavioural Change in Development in collaboration with National Democratic Institute on Tuesday in Lokoja.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the concert which drew over 5,000 youths across the 21 Local Government Areas of the state as well as tertiary institutions was supported by UKaid, USAID and 2Baba Foundation.
The popular musician asserted that the process of election should be peaceful and civil, stressing that his organisation, 2baba Foundation, has mobilised over 62 million people in the country to drive the campaign for peace.
Idibia had earlier paid a courtesy visit on Chief Edward Onoja, Chief of Staff and running mate of Governor Yahaya Bello as well as the Peoples Democratic Party Secretariat in Lokoja.
He urged security agencies and the electoral umpire, Independent National Electoral Commission to be neutral in the discharge of their duties.
Prof. James Apam, the state INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, said the state had witnessed various forms of electoral violence in past elections and there was need to change the situation.
Apam said that as part of preparations for the election, the commission had recruited senior ad hoc staff who were currently being trained, adding that students from tertiary institutions would also be used in conducting the election.
Halima Sadiq, Executive Director, PIBCID, stated the concert was organised to promote peaceful and non-violent election, saying that the youth had latent energy and ability that could be channeled to productive engagements for attainment of peace.
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