15 Political parties sign peace accord in Akwa Ibom

In preparation for the elections for governor and the state house of assembly that will take place on March 18, the Nigeria Police, Akwa Ibom State Command, has organised a peace accord for the candidates.

The candidates for governor from all of the major political parties were there. The present parties included PDP, APC, YPP, LP, NNPP, ACCORD, ZLP, PRP, APM, AA, ADP, AAC, APGA, SDP, and BP.

Before the pact was signed on Tuesday at the command headquarters in Ikot Akpan Abia, the Commissioner of Police, CP Olatoye Durosinmi, informed the candidates that the police would not hesitate to fight anyone who took part in violence or thuggery. He asked the candidates to tell their supporters not to do so.

Durosinmi said that the goal of the peace agreement was to promote peace in all ways and to ensure that candidates didn’t say anything that could cause violence before, during, or after the elections.

While promising to keep people safe during the March 18 elections, the CP urged people to come out in large groups to vote for the candidates of their choice without worrying about being attacked.

He said, “I urge all the candidates to talk to your supporters, some of whom are overzealous. Tell them that election cannot be won by violence. Signing the peace accord is not enough, but talking to your supporters to comport themselves during and after the polls.

“See the peace of Akwa Ibom State as paramount and beyond your personal interest, elections will come and go but the state will remain for us.”

Dr Cyril Omorogbe, the State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of INEC, was represented by Mr Emmanuel Ogbodu, the Administrative Secretary. In his speech, Dr Omorogbe promised a level playing pitch for all the candidates and said that INEC will continue to be an “unbiased umpire for the elections.”

He also said that everything would get to the polling stations on time.

In their separate speeches, the candidates for governor asked the INEC to stay neutral and hold free, fair, and credible elections, unlike what it did during the presidential election on February 25.

They also asked INEC to ensure that election materials got to polling units on time and that election results were sent out quickly.

Members of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Elections Security (ICCES), which was made up of Service Commanders from all Security Agencies and other critical stakeholders like INEC, NUJ, NBA, NMA, CLO, NLC, the NYSC, CAN, the Traditional Institutions, University Dons, local and international observers, and other key stakeholders were also at the event.