By Emem Idio

YENAGOA—THE Director, Centre for Niger Delta Studies in Niger Delta University, NDU, Bayelsa State, Professor Ibaba Samuel Ibaba, has condemned the spate of hate campaigns and speeches by politicians and political parties in the state ahead of the December 5 governorship elections.

Ibaba, who spoke as a guest lecturer at an event organized by the United Nations-POLAC, in partnership with Nengi James Foundation, to mark this year’s International Peace Day, yesterday in Yenagoa, described as dangerous, the trend of hate speeches and insult on personalities by politicians and political parties in the state, and stressed the need for them to be tolerant and civil in their campaigns to avoid throwing the state into unnecessary chaos.

The don, who spoke on the topic, Peaceful Governorship Elections in Bayelsa State: Interrogating Stakeholders Responsibilities, said stakeholders, including the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, political parties, media, security agencies and the civil society, must play their roles effectively as contained in the electoral guidelines to ensure a peaceful election in the state.

“To achieve peaceful elections, INEC must ensure that all guidelines are followed and avoid all forms of compromises. Political parties must avoid hate speeches and address grievances through due process, while the media must avoid partisanship and announce only results published by INEC,” he said.