From Atiku Sarki, Abuja
Ahead of the Ondo State governorship election, scheduled for Saturday, November 16, 2024, 18 political parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressives Congress (APC), and Labour Party (LP), have signed a Peace Accord this week in Ondo State.
The parties have pledged to promote a peaceful electoral process and to accept the outcome of the polls, provided they are free and fair.
At the signing ceremony, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, Chairman of the National Peace Committee, urged candidates and political parties to uphold democratic principles and reject vote-buying.
He stressed the importance of preserving the peaceful atmosphere currently prevailing in the country, describing the accord as a critical step towards ensuring a violence-free election.
In his remarks, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), noted that no major security incidents had been reported so far and expressed optimism about the peaceful conduct of the elections.
He assured the public of improved logistical arrangements on election day and encouraged all parties to abide by the terms of the peace agreement.
The Inspector General of Police, represented by AIG Sylvester Abiodun, assured the public of adequate security during the election.
Over 36,000 police officers will be deployed across all 18 local government areas, with additional personnel from other security agencies, bringing the total to 43,157 officers.
Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, commended the National Peace Committee for its efforts and reaffirmed his commitment to upholding democracy and the peace accord. He called on all political parties to embrace the spirit of the agreement and ensure a peaceful atmosphere both during and after the election.
The signing of this peace accord is seen as a crucial step toward fostering a peaceful electoral process in Nigeria, building on previous successes in reducing election-related violence.
