2nd February, 2015
The animosity between supporters of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, and those of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has reached an alarming level, especially on the social media.
When they are throwing insults and abuses, it is threats against one another. Supporters of both camps have been exhibiting intolerance that is scary and could translate to violence should the results of the 14 February Presidential Election be in dispute.
Some people have deleted their friends from facebook and other social media platforms since the campaign started because they hold different opinions on issues or simply because they support different candidates.
It is our opinion that rather than insulting and threatening one another, supporters in APC and PDP camps must deploy their energy to creative ideas that would enable their candidates and political parties win the elections.
They should be mobilising the electorate to collect their permanent voter’s cards as it is only with those cards that they will be able to influence the outcome of the elections.
Besides, there will be only one winner and the losing camp should be able to accept the results without resorting to killings and violence. Losing an election is not the end of the world.
Political parties and candidates should also rein in their overzealous supporters who may stop at nothing to foment trouble. The candidate who wins on 14 February will be the president of Nigeria and not the president of a political party or his supporters.