A legal practitioner, Otitoju Ayodeji, has called on youths in the Niger Delta region, to conduct themselves peacefully during the March 18 Governorship and House of Assembly elections.
Ayodeji, who is former public relations officer (PRO) of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) in Ondo State, made the call while speaking at a one-day sensitization/orientation programme for youths of the region, against electoral violence, ahead of the forthcoming elections.
The event was organized by a non-governmental organization, Pageant and Events Development initiative (PEDI, with support from Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
The training was one of the NGO’s activities to deepen peaceful elections across the Niger Delta region.
Speaking on the topic: “Dangers of Electoral Violence and Other Vices”, the legal practitioner noted that vote buying, or monetary inducements in elections is a form of money laundering, electoral fraud that aimed at influencing the outcome of the process, and engineering violence.
He stated that the youths are vulnerable groups to corrupt politicians to perpetrate the crimes in elections and there is the need for them to desist from such acts because of its dire consequences to humanity, and society at large.
Ayodeji, who expressed regrets that Nigeria’s electoral process is characterised with intimidation, violence and cohesion, urged the youths to allow for a transparent process in the soon coming elections.
Earlier in his opening remarks, the representative of PEDI, Robinson Akpu, lauded the orderliness exhibited by the youths during the registration process and encouraged them replicate the same energy in elections.
