Ahead of the November 16 Ondo State Governorship election, the Independent National Electoral Commission has announced that candidates in the race will sign a peace accord on November 8, facilitated by the National Peace Committee, led by former Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar.
The signing aims to ensure candidates pledge to a peaceful and violence-free election as campaigning reaches its peak in the final two weeks.
The INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said this during a quarterly consultative meeting with Civil Society Organisations in Abuja on Thursday.
“On this note, I am also glad to announce that the National Peace Committee, under the leadership of our respected former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar GFCR, is holding the signing of the Peace Accord for parties and candidates in Ondo State on Friday, November 8, 2024,” he noted.
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Yakubu also flagged potential hotspots in Ondo State, noting that the commission is coordinating with security agencies to prevent violence.
“However, we are aware of flashpoints in some Local Government Areas to which we have already drawn the attention of the security agencies,” the INEC Chairman said.
Yakubu highlighted the importance of contributions from civil society, emphasising their role in promoting peaceful elections.
He called on CSOs that observed the recent Edo Governorship election to promptly submit their reports.
“As the Ondo State Governorship approaches, I wish to remind CSOs that are yet to submit reports for the Edo Governorship election to do so in earnest,” he noted.
The INEC Chairman has expressed progress in Ondo State’s election readiness.
He noted that nearly 72 percent of registered voters have collected their Permanent Voter Cards, and INEC has scheduled a mock accreditation exercise in selected polling units for November 6 to test result uploads on the INEC Result Viewing portal.
In a continued effort to ensure a secure and credible election, he said INEC will conduct a final assessment of logistical arrangements and collaborate with security agencies to address potential flashpoints in the state.
“As early as next week, the Commission will undertake a final readiness assessment of our preparations for the Ondo election, meet with our officials, engage with stakeholders and interact with the security agencies and transport providers,” he added. (PUNCH)
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