2019: 40 presidential candidates form coalition, warn Police to steer clear of election

A coalition of presidential candidates from different political
parties under the aegis of Patriotic Forum of Presidential Candidates
(PFPC), has cautioned the Nigeria Police to allow a peaceful and
transparent election in 2019 by not interfering in the process.

Recently held elections in Ekiti, Osun, Katsina, Bauchi, Kogi and the
bye-election in Kwara last week were adjudged by observers as having
great interference from the security agencies, especially the police.

But at a media briefing after an inaugural meeting in Abuja on
Tuesday, the coalition, led by Breakforth Onwubuya, the presidential
candidate of Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), said the coalition will
interface with law enforcement agencies to be neutral, "particularly
the Nigerian police, not to interfere with the electoral process or
allow itself to be used by any group or person to influence election
results in favour of any particular candidate".

The coalition also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC) to play its constitutional role as an unbiased and neutral
umpire throughout the 2019 general elections, saying only that would
guarantee a credible and peaceful election.

"They must also ensure that all eligible voters that are not yet
registered are duly registered and that they have their PVCs ready for
the elections," the forum insisted.

On the state of the nation, Onwubuya said the group has also planned
to engage the government to do more on the current state of internal
security for the well being of Nigerians and guarantee credible
electoral process before, during and after the 2019 general elections.

He said, "the Forum is craving the indulgence of the international
community and Nigerians in diaspora to pay adequate attention and
support to Nigeria at this critical time, when the nation is about to
go to poll to elect new set of democratic leaders."

The coalition promised to engage the media to provide cheaper, equal
and level playground to all candidates, especially pay attention to
credible electoral reporting.

"The overall objective of the forum is to advocate and ensure the
delivery of free, fair, credible and violence free election in 2019,"
Onwubuya added.

He said "it is most important to have Nigeria united as individual
entity after the polls", stressing that the forum has about 40
presidential candidates out of the 79 who have subscribed to it,
adding that "more will join soon as the agenda is not selfish but
national interest".

Some of the presidential candidates present were: Shittu Mohammed,
APDA, Yusuf Dantalle, APM, Obadiah Mailafia, ADC, Danjuma Muhammed,
MRDD, and Chima Benjamin, PCD.