By Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

As electioneering campaigns kick off today, the National League of Veteran Journalists (NALVEJ) in Kwara State, has enjoined politicians to shun violence and embrace issue-based campaigns.

The league, in a statement by its Chairman, Alhaji Tunde Akanbi and Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Abdullahi Olesin, urged candidates of various political parties and other stakeholders to play the game according to its rules.

It enjoined them not to overheat the polity through unguarded statements capable of threatening the fragile peace of the country.

NALVEJ advised the politicians to shun divisive tendencies in their campaigns, but rather embrace issues that would unite the country.

It also cautioned them against employing the youths for thuggery and disruptive activities during their campaigns.

The league, therefore, urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure a strict monitoring of the activities of the political parties and their candidates during this period and apply necessary sanctions on those that run foul of the provisions of the Electoral Act and other extant rules guiding the conduct of the election.

NALVEJ also admonished media houses and journalists across the country to ensure fairness in their reportage and coverage of electoral activities, urging them to resist any attempt by the politicians to use them as instruments of destruction against opponents.

Ends