The Niger State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has enjoined the Christian faithful to vote for credible candidates at the forthcoming governorship and state assembly elections.
Its chairman, Most Rev. Bulus Yohanna, in a statement, said such candidates should be those who will ensure development and peaceful co-existence among the people.
Yohanna added that after due consultation with the national body, the state chapter has decided that members must consider the character, competence, capacity and policies of candidates before deciding on who to vote.
He said: “The candidate must be God-fearing, honest and respectful of the rule of law, justice and fairness for all. He or she must have respect for religious and ethnic diversity.”
He said the candidates must be compassionate, disciplined and live credible lifestyles; must not be cultists, religious fanatics, or involved in illicit drugs and must not have relationships with bandits and thugs.
He also enjoined voters to consider the antecedents of candidates in terms of performance in positions they occupied in the past. “The preferred candidates must be those who can guarantee internal security, religious neutrality, and enforcement of fundamental rights and be fair in appointments,” the chairman charged.