Guber polls: Electoral violence possible on both APC/PDP sides- Afegbua …Foresees a balance of terror if parties disagree

Politician and Public Affairs Analyst, Kassim Afegbua, yesterday, stated that if ever there’s any form of an electoral violence in the forthcoming governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa States respectively, it will come from both the sides of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Addressing the issue of thuggery, the political analyst stated that it is caused by “Leadership Atrophy” where there is bound to be under performance on the part of a party’s candidate. He noted that it is such politician that employ the services of youth from the streets to visit harms on the electorates.
Afegbua stated this during a live radio programme- Politics Extra, which is produced by the Progressive Impact Organisation for Community Development, PRIMORG, while discussing the topic:- “Bayelsa/Kogi Governorship Elections: Matters Arising,” in Abuja.
Buttressing his point, the outspoken analyst noted that the APC in Kogi State is one party that is prone to violence, adding that there’s going to be some level of ‘Balance of Terror’ if the opposition (PDP) decides to respond.
He cited some comments credited to the Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, who said, “I’d prefer to lose the election than to have Sen. Dino Melaye emerge victorious in his Senatorial Election.
“By the time you look at those kind of statements coming from the Chief Executive, who ordinarily, by our constitution, is supposed to be the Chief Security Officer of the state, it means that he’s already preparing the ground for breakdown of law and order.”
Speaking on Bayelsa state, Afegbua noted that there’s the existence of a dominant Governor, Nyesom Wike, “who’s accused of single handedly picking and supporting a candidate, versus another who has federal might,” that is the minister for petroleum, Timipre Silver, “who is also from that state.
“So while the federal government would want to show presence, the incumbent would also want to resist, which makes it balance of terror, and who suffers at the end? it is we, the people,” he said.
He, however, urged such class of atrophic politicians to translate their promises of good governance to the benefit of the people, noting that the so-called thugs can cash in on govt programmes and policies to vacate the streets.
He also called for a total compliance in the attainment of a free and fair election on the part of all political parties as against the substantial compliance proposed by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
Meanwhile, during the phone in session, Mr. Yombor from airport road called to react to Afegbua’s position who is against having a multi-party system operation. Yonbor counter-argued that it gives every Nigerian the opportunity to participate in election regardless of party size and capability.
Also, Apostle Osolai who called in from Apo appealed to PRIMORG to utilize its platform and reach out to President Muhammadu Buhari on the signing of the electoral bill, which he said, would help unite politicians in a win or lose situation without any legal battle afterwards.

Amadin Idahosa

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