In a positive move towards a peaceful election, 18 political parties in Ondo State have signed a peace accord ahead of the upcoming governorship election. The agreement pledges that the parties will promote a peaceful electoral process and accept the results, as long as the election is free and fair.
The peace accord is seen as a major step in preventing violence during the election and creating a safe environment for all voters.
General Abdulsalam Abubakar, the chairman of the National Peace Committee, spoke at the signing ceremony and urged all candidates and parties to support democracy, avoid illegal actions like vote buying, and work together to maintain peace. He emphasized how important it is to keep Nigeria’s peaceful atmosphere intact.
Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), also shared a message of support. He said that no security issues had been reported so far, and he expressed confidence that things would stay peaceful. He promised that INEC would improve its plans for election day and urged all parties to stick to the peace agreement.
The Inspector General of the Nigeria Police Force, Kayode Egbetokun, who was represented by AIG Sylvester Abiodun, reassured the public that security forces are fully prepared. Over 36,000 police officers will be deployed across 18 local government areas, and additional officers from other security agencies will bring the total number of personnel to 43,157.
Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, praised the National Peace Committee for its work and promised to support the peace accord. He also urged other parties to continue to promote peace throughout the election period and beyond.
The signing of the peace accord marks a crucial step in ensuring a peaceful and fair election in Ondo State, following previous efforts to reduce election-related violence in Nigeria.
