Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese and Convener of the National Peace Committee, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah has said that the Anambra governorship election won’t be free and fair if a life is lost.
In an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto stated that many Nigerians have died unnecessarily and it should be the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) responsibility to ensure that nobody loses their life or suffers any unwanted injury during the November 6 election.
Kukah said: “But for me, over and above everything else, the election won’t be free, fair and credible if one person loses his life.
“The most important parameter to consider the election success is that nobody needs to lose their life.
“Too many Nigerians have died unnecessarily. The most important thing is to make sure that nobody loses their life, nobody suffers any unwanted injury.
“It is the responsibility of INEC. The commission has a threshold that constitutes all we can consider free, fair and credible elections.”
The Catholic Bishop also averred that voter apathy has serious consequences especially in countries like Nigeria.
Kukah added: “But for us in Nigeria and in Africa, an election is war, a battle of life and survival. In part because if you vote for the wrong person, you could easily become a small dot in a big circle.
“You vote for the wrong person, you could easily end up with no road in your village, or school or health care facility.”
“It is not like the United States and other settled democracies where whether you vote or not, things happen to run on fine. Whether you elect the right person or not, it will not affect the level of education and health that they have in their environment.”