The Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), on Tuesday, during a meeting in Abuja agreed that the general election must hold on March 28 and April 11 as scheduled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

After several deliberations, and review of the political situation in Nigeria, the NPAN, in a communique issued at the end of the meeting said that the election must produce an outcome and Nigerians must rally around whoever emerge the winner.

In the communique signed by its president, Nduka Obaigbena, NPAN said that the coming election “is for and by the Nigerian people and it must be free, fair and held in such a way that it will deepen the nation’s democracy such that, at the end of the electoral process, Nigeria must be the winner.

“We call on the people of Nigeria, especially political leaders across the nation, to eschew every form of violence. The prevalent do-or-die attitude is unnecessary, unhelpful and unhealthy for our system of democracy.

“We must all say no to violence before, during and after the election,” the communique read.