By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau in Benin City
With the off-cycle governorship election in Edo state few days away, former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd) who is the Chairman of National Peace Committee (NPC), the Committee’s Convener Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah and the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu have passionately appealed to all the political parties and candidates in the September 21, 2024 to refrain from acts that may lead to political violence in the state.
Speaking on Thursday at Signing of the Edo State Peace Accord by political parties and their governorship candidates ahead of the 2024 Edo state off-cycle governorship election helat Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub, Benin City, Abubakar said the importance of the Peace Accord cannot be over emphasized.
Accord to him NPC is committed to the peaceful conduct of elections in Nigeria, pointing out that his Committee is favourably disposed to see a peaceful election in the country including Edo state.
He therefore told them that the signing of the Peace Accord is to signify their readiness for the interest in the people that they want to serve, saying “you have made that commitment today”.
The former Head of State told them that elections are the pillars of democracy and in democracy there are no losers hence it should not be a do or die affair.
NPC Convener and Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Most Reverend Father Matthew Hassan Kukah pleaded with the political actors to eschew acts of violence and hooliganism as nothing will be achieved in the atmosphere of chaos.
Also speaking at occasion, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun reassured the contestants and their political parties that Police and other sister security agencies have pledged their neutrality and impartiality to the successful conduct of Edo state governorship election.
In his Goodwill message the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Professor Mahmood Yakubu for the umpteenth time said the Commission is favourably disposed to peaceful, free, fair and credible election in Edo state.
Said he: “For us as the election management body, I want to assure political parties and candidates that we will continue to play our part according to the law and best practice as articulated in the clauses of the National Peace Accord that we are about to commit ourselves to.
“I appeal to political parties and candidates to note that it is not your signatures on the peace document that will guarantee peaceful election. It is your commitment to its implementation that is critical.
“Therefore, as you sign the Peace Accord, commit yourselves to the implementation and terms of the accord and pass the message to your supporters at all levels for compliance. This is the best way to honour the effort and sacrifice of the Chairman and members of the NPC to peaceful elections”.
Yakubu therefore called on the political parties and their candidates to subscribe to a peaceful election by refraining from electoral violence just as he admonished political parties and candidates to adhere to the letters of the Peace Accord which they signed today before the world.
Yakubu on behalf of INEC expressed the Commission’s appreciation to General Abubakar and members of NPC for their untiring efforts in bringing parties, candidates and other stakeholders together for peaceful elections in Nigeria.
Said he: “Some of you here may recall that four years ago, the NPC took a historic decision to devolve the signing of the Peace Accord beyond the Presidential Election to include off-cycle Governorship Elections in view of the tension and violence often associated with the build-up to and conduct of such elections.
“The first Peace Accord outside Abuja was signed on Tuesday 15th September 2020 here in Benin City ahead of the last Governorship election held on 19th September 2020.
” Happily, political parties and candidates adhered to their commitments under the terms of the Peace Accord and the election was held peacefully in spite of the tension during the pre-election campaign activities”.
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