Taraba Peace Committee Calls For Calm Amid Electoral Violence Concerns

By G9ija

The Taraba Independent Peace Committee has expressed concern about the threat of violence in several local government areas of the state, despite the signing of a peace accord by 14 gubernatorial candidates ahead of the governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections scheduled for Saturday.

The committee’s chairman, Prof. Talla Ngarka, condemned recent attacks on political party convoys in Takum and Wukari local government areas, and called on all political actors to adhere to the rules of the game. The committee made this call during a press briefing held in Jalingo.

“The committee is in receipt of the reports of attacks on the convoy of some political parties in Wukari and Takum local government areas and we are disturbed with these development, which is coming few days to election.

“There are also threats of violence in Donga, Wukari, Takum, Yorro, Gassol and Jalingo local government areas according to reports from independent monitors working with Initiative for Community and Human Development in Taraba State.

“We want to appeal to all the governorship candidates, party chairpersons, political stakeholders, religious and traditional rulers to prevail on their supporters, followers and subjects to give peace a chance before, during and after the elections,” he said.

The chairman of the Taraba Independent Peace Committee, Prof. Talla Ngarka, emphasized that his committee, along with the Kukah Centre Secretariat of the National Peace Committee, is not a law enforcement agency.

Nevertheless, they are dedicated to achieving a peaceful society and are ready to share any intelligence related to threats associated with politicians and political parties with the relevant security agencies.

Prof. Talla Ngarka also appealed to all politicians taking part in the upcoming governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections to adhere to the rules of the game.

He further pointed out that the intervention of the National Peace Committee and the tireless efforts of the Taraba Peace Committee contributed to a peaceful outcome of the just-concluded presidential election in Taraba State, without any incidents of violence in any part of the state.