17 political parties with the exemption of the Peoples Democratic Party have signed the Peace Accord as they go to the polls on Saturday 21 September 2024 to elect the next Governor of Edo state.
Though the PDP state chairman Dr Tony Aziegbemi and the party’s Governorship Candidate Asue Ighodalo were present at the meeting, they refused to pen their signatures in the document on the ground that their members are being harassed and detained by the law enforcement agencies both in Edo state and Abuja.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the National Peace Committee and former Head of state, General Abdulsalami Abubakar in his opening remarks urged all political actors and stakeholders to commit themselves to the cause of peace in Edo state, adding that the signing of the peace accord signified their readiness to place the interest of the people above individual or party ambitions.
Also the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, Prof Mamood Yakubu assured the political parties and candidates of INEC’s commitment to the terms of the Peace Accord.
The Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun on his part warned political things to stay away from the state as the police and other sister security agencies will work round the clock to ensure the electoral process is hitch-free.
The National Peace Committee (NPC) led by former military Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd) and Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Rev Mathew Kukah is a platform designed to seek the commitment of political parties to campaigns free of hate speech, incitement, and violence and also to accept the outcome of the votes as long as the pol is adjudged to be free, fair and credible.
