17th March, 2015
The Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) has stated that the 2015 general elections that was earlier rescheduled due to security concerns must now hold on the new dates.
In a statement signed by Nduka Obaigbena, President of NPAN, the association took the stand after it held an Extra-Ordinary Meeting in Abuja today. The body said it took the decision after exhaustive deliberations, and review of the political situation in the country.
“The general election must hold on March 28th and April 11th as scheduled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The election must produce an outcome and Nigerians must rally around whoever emerges the winner,” the statement said.
“This election is for and by the Nigerian people and it must be free, fair and held in such a way that it will deepen the nation’s democracy such that at the end of the electoral process, Nigeria must be the winner.”
“We call on the people of Nigeria, especially political leaders across the nation, to eschew every form of violence. The prevalent do-or-die attitude is unnecessary, unhelpful and unhealthy for our system of democracy. We must all say no to violence before, during and after the election,” the statement read.