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By Baba Mohammed
The National Orientation Agency, NOA, says it is committed to fostering peaceful engagement among the political class to ensure a rancour-free 2027 General Election.
The Kwara State Director of NOA, Alhaji Abubakar Yakubu, stated this today in Ilorin during a stakeholders’ engagement programme themed “Election Without Bitterness”, and jointly organized with Ilorin South Local Government.
Alhaji Abubakar who noted that nation-building requires sustained partnership also appealed to stakeholders to shun all acts that could disrupt or cause violence before, during and after the elections.
He emphasized that elections should serve as a platform for national development and not division.
The NOA Director also urged politicians to engage in issue-based campaigns and to seek alternative dispute resolution rather than resort to humiliation.
A resource person, Associate Professor Adeseko Ola-Ifa, cautioned against the “do-or-die” attitude during elections and called for national unity and development without violence and intimidation of other parties.
Prof. Ola-Ifa also advised politicians to demonstrate the spirit of sportsmanship during and after the forthcoming general elections.
In his welcome address, the Chairman of Ilorin South Local Government, Mallam Abdul-Majeed Podo, thanked NOA for the timely sensitization.
He called for unity among stakeholders regardless of political differences, and urged the electorate to vote for credible candidates of their choice and to ensure the sustainable peaceful coexistence for which Kwara State is known.
Earlier, the Chief Orientation and Mobilization Officer, Ilorin South, Mrs. Grace Isinmikaye, said with the 2027 General Election fast approaching, NOA deemed it necessary to sensitize the people on ways to achieve a peaceful, fair, credible and violence-free election
