The deputy governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming Bayelsa governorship election, Joshua Maciver has come under attack for inciting violence ahead of the election.
Maciver, during a political campaign of the party in Twon Brass, Bayelsa State, called on supporters of APC to chase anyone opposed to the emergence of the party into the sea and kill people, as long as victory was secured.
In a statement, the Bayelsa Women Arise has condemned the comments. The statement by the Publicity Secretary, Ebibaratimi Atani, urged the Inspector General of (IGP) and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) to take immediate and decisive action to reassure voters of their safety.
The group argued that it was the duty of law enforcement agencies to protect the lives and property of all citizens, adding: “we believe that failure to address this issue promptly would set a dangerous precedent for our state’s political climate.
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The statement said: “In light of the above, we urge the Inspector-General of Police to launch a thorough and swift investigation into the comments made by Mr Joshua Maciver, as a way of preventing bloodshed, which Mr Maciver and his co-travellers are determined to unleash on our people during the forthcoming election.
“Recall that a few days ago, our organisation expressed our fears and sensitized the people of Bayelsa for a violence-free Governorship election on November 11, during a Peace Walk where thousands of Bayelsa people participated.
“During his speech in Twon Brass, Mr Joshua Maciver shockingly advocated for the killing of supporters of opposition candidates, thereby inciting violence and creating an atmosphere of fear and intimidation in our beloved state.
“Such statements are not only unbecoming of a political candidate but are also a direct threat to the democratic process, which is built on the principles of peaceful coexistence and respect for the rights and choices of the citizens.”