ELECTION related violence remains a major concern as the February 6 governorship election in Anambra State draws nearer. The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and other commentators say Anambra would be a test case.

What INEC intends to do to achieve free and fair election in Anambra is unclear.

However, community leaders, traditional rulers, religious authorities and parents, should call all those under their charge to order.  The end of year festivities, during which many village union meetings hold, is a great platform for various communities to restrain their young people from being recruited as thugs in the election.

Young people, who are mostly recruited for these criminal acts, should be told that they are compromising their future for the benefit of some desperate politicians, whose children are never available to be thugs.

Political thuggery has become such a big enterprise that thugs are also recruited from States other than where the election is holding.

The political parties also have a big part to play. They should commit themselves to non-violence and whip their members into line. Party policies are vital to the sustenance of democracy. Parties must check the conduct of some of their members who have embraced thuggery as a calling.

INEC should include more messages against violence in its vote education campaign, whenever it starts.

The security agencies need to use more intelligence-driven strategies to knock criminals off their pace.  They should start monitoring the election from the security situations that arise at party rallies. Security personnel have been accused of taking sides in these incidents or looking away when they should be impartial.

Sometimes the wrong people are arrested for violence. At other times, after such violence, not all the parties involved are brought to the law, on the few occasions that the security agencies make arrests.

With 38 days to the election, various issues surrounding its conduct have raised tension. A full understanding that the security agencies would be fair and firm in combating violence would enhance public confidence in the process.

Section 126 of the Electoral Act which states, “Any person who at a political meeting held after the date for an election has been announced, a.) Acts or incites another to act in a disorderly manner for the purpose of preventing the transaction of the business for which the meeting was convened or b.)

Has in his possession an offensive weapon or missile, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a maximum fine of N100, 000 or imprisonment for 12 months or both,” is too mild. Can we start  to implement Section 126 for a start?

In addition, thugs and their masters should be charged for murder and arson, two crimes that are never far away from political violence.