Seventeen of the 18 political parties contesting the September 21 Edo governorship election have signed a peace accord ahead of the election.
PDP Chairman Anthony Aziegbemi and its Candidate, Asue
Ighodalo, who were present during the signing of the peace accord declined to
sign.
Aziegbemi told newsmen that they were declining because 10
members of the party were currently being detained by the police in Abuja.
According to him, we are here to register our protest before
the peace committee and to say that the PDP will not sign a peace accord when
10 of our members have been arrested and detained by the police in Abuja.
It would be recalled that the Inspector-General of Police,
Kayode Egbetokun, on Wednesday during the stakeholders meeting, said he was not
aware that PDP members were arrested in the state.
“However, I am aware that individuals who committed crimes
and political violence in the state have been arrested, ” Egbetokun said.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the signing of the
peace accord is coming barely nine days to the governorship election in the
state.
The Convener of the National Peace Committee, Bishop Matthew
Hassan Kukah, charged the candidates to see peace as a foundation for credible
election.
Kukah said that the task before the committee was to support
the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure a peaceful
election devoid of violence.
“We should be thankful for our country because some other
African countries are in crisis because of unresolved political issues.
” Let us thank God that we have the opportunity in Nigeria
to stretch our hands in search for justice.
”I am happy that Nigerians have confidence in the electoral
process. The worst election is remedied by another election, ” he said.
Kukah urged Edo people to go out and cast their votes,
saying that Edo should count themselves lucky having produced top politicians
in Nigeria.
In his welcome remarks, the Chairman, National Peace
Committee, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, said the ceremony was a commitment to
uphold the peace, unity, and democratic values of the nation
Abubakar noted that since the committee’s formation in 2014,
it had worked tirelessly to foster an environment where every Nigerian could
exercise their constitutional right to vote without fear of violence or
intimidation.
He appealed to candidates, parties and their supporters to
remember that peace was the foundation upon which progress and development were
built and established.
“Without it, none of the promises made to the people of Edo
state can be fulfilled.
” I encourage everyone to uphold this commitment beyond the
elections and accept the outcome of the election, ” he said.
Also speaking, the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu
assured that INEC would continue to play its part in line with the electoral
laws.
Yakubu thanked the Peace Committee for bringing the
political parties and their candidates together to agree to a peaceful
election.
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, noted
that the police in collaboration with other security agencies would be
supporting INEC in conducting the election.
According to him, we will remain impartial, professional and
vigilant while providing a level playing ground for political parties and their
candidates.
Gov. Godwin Obaseki, however, assured the Peace Committee of
the safety of all stakeholders during and after the election.
Obaseki, represented by the Secretary to the State
Government, Joseph Eboigbe expressed concern over the continuous detention of
PDP members in Abuja
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The statement should have been the Police and the Mahmood Yakubu will be announcing the result in favour of APC in Edo State. Leave peace accord. Did Tinubu not win with just 8m votes in a population of over 250m nigerians. Peace accord.
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