By EricJames Ochigbo
Chief Sam Nkire, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Caucus, has urged Nigerians to be calm and resist violence as presidential election results are being declared.
In a statement on Tuesday, Nkire urged the youths particularly to be patient and keep their cool even after the final announcement of the election results.
His advice came after some reported cases of protests following the agitations of some political parties at the Presidential Election Collation Center in Abuja.
The APC chieftain said that Nigeria cannot afford to degenerate into post-election crisis as the country is too important to the sub-region and the world at large.
He said that the election which is an improvement on the last one would surely produce a president that a majority of Nigerians want and voted for.
“It would be foolhardy for members of the public to take to the streets to protest and riot over the delay in the announcing process by the Independent National Elections Commission (INEC) or over unsuccessful attempt by their preferred candidates to win.
“The country is too important and strategic to Africa and the world for it to descend into post-election violence and crisis.
“It is capable of significantly impacting on the socio-economic, security state of the sub-region and the whole world,” Nkire said.
He said that the 2023 elections have so far indicated that the youth are yearning for inclusivity in the running of the affairs of the country.
According to him, it is fundamental that the youths get involved more than ever before in the political process of the country.
Addressing the candidates, Nkire said that no patriot goes into an election hoping to win at all costs.
He said that an electoral contest must not be a do or die affair for anyone who has the peace and unity of the country at heart.
Nkire, a pioneer member of the APC, said that the party will continue to maintain peace should it win or lose, calling on the three other major contenders to follow suit, whether they win or lose too.
He urged INEC to keep Nigerians informed and communicate with the political parties whenever it faces hitches or difficulties in the cause of its national assignments and operations.
He also urged candidates and leaders of political parties to restrain their members and supporters from taking the laws into their hands while the nation awaited the final announcement of the presidential election result.