The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has called on federal authorities and the Ogoni electorate to ensure that the 2019 elections are peaceful and free from any form of violence.

“In particular MOSOP is very concerned about the use of soldiers to harass and intimidate voters and political opponents. We urge government, voters and party supporters to ensure a free and peaceful conduct of all elections during this period,” MOSOP said Friday in a statement signed by the President, Fegalo Nsuke.

The statement expressed the hope that “this election will mark a departure from our previous experiences in Ogoni where military crackdown led to the death of many and voters were intimidated by security personnel and chased away from voting centres.”

It called on Ogonis “to be courageous and exercise their voting rights freely and charge all voters to conduct themselves peacefully for the sake of Ogoni and our country Nigeria.”