The Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),  Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has cautioned that election should not be a do-or-die affair but a civil exercise of leadership choices.

Reacting to reports of recent violence in Rivers State during a Governorship campaign rally of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku said in his Twitter handle:

“There should be no place for violence and anti-democratic manifestations in this election.

“We’ve already committed to that in the peace pact we all signed up to. Elections are not a do-or-die affair but an opportunity to reinforce our belief in democracy through our leadership choices via adult suffrage.

“We had complained about the violence that had been visited on our party in some states because we did not want it to become a pattern if those engaged in anti-democratic activities were not brought to book.

“Our worst fears have now manifested with the explosion at the APC rally in Port Harcourt. It stands condemned.

“Elections and the choices we make should be about the ballot and not the bullet. On behalf of my team, I stand in solidarity with the APC and the families of the injured. I wish the injured a quick recovery.

“Those behind this dastardly act, including their promoters must be brought to justice to serve as a deterrent to “copycats who may be emboldened to thread this same anti-democratic path.”