Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari has charged political parties, candidates and security agents to behave responsibly in the Edo State gubernatorial elections billed for tomorrow.

This is even as he has described do or die politics as a threat to democracy.

According to a statement by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, Buhari  in a message to voters, political parties, election officials and security personnel, said he was reiterated his stance  that: “I am passionately committed to free and fair elections, but my own commitment is not enough if other actors at ground zero refuse to abide by the rules.

“I want to see democratic standards in the country raised higher at every level, but these cannot be achieved when politicians resort to do or die methods to gain power by any means or machination.”

He said “the do-or-die mentality to politics is a threat to free and fair elections because the actors are more focused on winning than caring about a fair outcome that reflects the Will of the people.”

The president appealed to all political parties and their candidates to behave peacefully and respect law and order. He also advised election officials and security agents “to remain neutral to ensure free and fair elections and avoid any action(s) capable of compromising the integrity of the elections.”

President Buhari stressed that “conducting free and fair elections is one of my main concerns for our democracy, and I want this commitment to be one of the legacies I will leave behind when I depart office.”

Chijioke Agwu, Abakaliki

No fewer than 31 persons have reportedly died in a road accident along Akaeze-Ishiagu axis of Afikpo-Okigwe highway in Ivo local government area of Ebonyi state.

It was gathered that the incident occurred on Friday at about 5:45pm.

An eyewitness told our correspondent that the accident occurred when an Enugu-bound Mercedes Benz 608 bus conveying people returning from a burial ceremony in Ebonyi state attempted to overtake a trailer just before a bridge in the area .

The driver of the bus was said to have lost control of the vehicle and veered off into the river and got submerged immediately. As at the time of filing this report, only five persons in critical condition had been reportedly found and rushed to the hospital for treatment.

“An accident just occurred at Akaeze Development Centre. A 608 bus carrying 36 persons returning from a burial in Ebonyi heading to Enugu while trying to overtake a trailer, the driver lost control and the bus jumped into the river .Up till now, more than 20 minutes after the incident none of them has been found’’ the source said.

The Police Public Relations Officer for Ebonyi Command, DSP Loveth Odah, confirmed the accident to our correspondent, describing it as ‘very unfortunate incident ‘

She however disclosed that about five persons had so far been rescued from the river, adding that efforts were on to rescue some other survivors.

“It is a very unfortunate incident. The DPO of the area just told me that about five persons have been rescued and rushed to the hospital while efforts were on to see if some other persons can be rescued too. Our men are already on ground to see what can be done to help the situation’’ Odah said.