The Bishop of the Diocese of Lagos (Anglican Communion) Rt. Revd. (Dr.) James Olusola Odedeji, has called on all agencies involved in the conduct of 2019 election to be impartial and God-fearing.
Odedeji made the call on Monday at the governorship debate organised by the Church at Archbishop Vining Memorial Church Cathedral, Ikeja Lagos.
The debate had in attendance 12 gubernatorial candidates in Lagos State.
“We seize this opportunity to call on all the agencies involved in the conduct of the elections to be God-fearing in discharging their responsibilities.
“We call on the electoral commission, the security agencies, the media and civil society organisation to be fair to all and realise that they will give account of their stewardship one day to their creator.
“Equally, candidates and political parties should realise that elections represent offer for service, therefore no basis for the desperation that attends the exercise in Nigeria.
“The voters are kings; they reserve the right to choose whoever they want, and this should be readily accepted by losers,” Odedeji said.
He called on the voters to make wise decisions that would help them in moving Nigeria forward.
“We have embarked on sensitisation and mobilisation efforts toward educating our three million members on their rights and the right attitude and procedures to adopt.
“This will continue in our churches until the elections are concluded and released; it is our own way of encouraging the emergence of the best leaders for Nigeria,” he said.
Odedeji said that elections, being periodic, would always provide another opportunity for losers to have another shot at the polls, which could be their turn to win.
“Election is a periodic exercise and losers today can become winners tomorrow. In any case, the society should be the ultimate winners where it is conducted without fear of favour.
“Nigeria is long due to join the league of nations where elections are regarded as routine exercise and the country will not be shut down,” he said.
The candidates present at the gubernatorial debate include that of Labour Party, Prince Awamaridi Ifagbemi; Action Democratic Party (ADP), Mr Babatunde Gbadamosi; and National Conscience Party (NCP) Ven. Funsho Awe.
Others are: African Democratic Congress (ADC), Mr Muyiwa Fafowora; Advanced Nigeria Democratic Party (ANDP), Dr Segun Musa; Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Jimi Agbaje; and Alliance National Party (ANP), Mr Ladipo Johnson.
Also taking part in the debate are the candidates of All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Young Progressive Party (YPP), Mrs Adebisi Ogunsanya; Social Democratic Party (SDP), Mr Adetokunbo Pearse and Alliance for Democracy (AD) Mr Owolabi Salis.
