Ahead of the Ondo State gubernatorial election set for Saturday, seventeen political parties and their governorship candidates have signed a peace accord, pledging to uphold peace throughout the electoral process.
The ceremony, held in Akure, was organized by the National Peace Accord Committee, chaired by former military Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar.
General Abubakar emphasized the importance of a peaceful election, stating that the peace accord is aimed at fostering a credible and violence-free electoral environment.
“The signing of this peace accord commits gubernatorial candidates and party leaders to support a peaceful and credible election,” he said, underscoring the need for candidates to respect democratic principles.
Abubakar also called on party leaders and candidates to accept the outcome of the election if it is conducted fairly, advising them to address any disputes through lawful and nonviolent means.
“It is our hope that the Ondo election sets a positive example for other off-cycle elections in the country,” he added, highlighting the role of the accord in promoting national unity.
He further commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its preparations, while also applauding the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies for their commitment to maintaining peace.
Abubakar encouraged security personnel to remain vigilant and proactive in preventing any acts of violence as the election approaches.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, in his remarks, thanked the Peace Accord Committee for its continued efforts to ensure peaceful elections across Nigeria.
He noted that, due to the success of past accords, the National Peace Committee had extended the signing of peace agreements to governorship elections, given the tensions that often surround these races.
Yakubu assured the public of INEC’s readiness, stating that no major security issues have been reported in Ondo and expressing confidence that the collaboration among INEC, security agencies, traditional leaders, and civil society organizations would facilitate a peaceful election.
He confirmed that logistical measures, including special arrangements for remote areas, were fully addressed to ensure smooth operations on election day.
Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, also guaranteed that the police would provide impartial and vigilant security throughout the election to ensure a fair playing field for all candidates.
Ondo State Governor and APC candidate, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, committed to upholding the peace accord, reassuring the committee and stakeholders of safety measures in place to sustain peace before, during, and after the election.
The event concluded with a call for all political actors to respect democratic principles, reinforcing a collective commitment to a fair and peaceful election in Ondo State.
