As the race for the forthcoming governorship election in Ondo State heats up, major political parties and their candidates have signed a Peace Accord to ensure a peaceful and credible electoral process.
The signing ceremony took place on Friday at the International Culture and Event Centre (The Dome) in Akure, the state capital. A total of 18 political parties, including the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, as well as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Agboola Ajayi, were in attendance.
Call for Peaceful, Credible Election
The Peace Accord was chaired by General Abdulsalami Abubakar, the former Head of State and Chairman of the National Peace Committee. In his remarks, Abubakar urged the party leaders and candidates to accept the outcome of the elections as long as it is adjudged to be free, fair and credible, and to seek legitimate and peaceful means of addressing any concerns that may arise.
“I want to call on all stakeholders to work assiduously in their capacities to ensure that peace reigns supreme during this election and that the Ondo state off-cycle election sets a precedent for other off-cycle elections to emulate,” Abubakar said.
INEC’s Preparedness and Commitment
Mahmood Yakubu, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), assured that the commission has perfected its arrangements for the movement of over 17,000 ad hoc and regular officials, as well as large quantities of materials to 4,154 voting and collation locations across the state.
Yakubu emphasized the importance of the political parties and candidates honoring their commitments under the Peace Accord, stating that “your commitment to its implementation is critical.”
Security Measures Announced
Olukayode Egbetokun, the Inspector General of Police, stated that the Police will deploy a total of 34,657 personnel to the polling units, ward and local government area collation centers, as well as other strategic locations. This will be complemented by the Armed Forces, Intelligence Security Agencies and other sister Security Agencies, bringing the total number of security personnel deployed for the election to 43,157.
Egbetokun also said that the Police will provide sufficient Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), trucks, patrol vehicles, buses, ambulances, helicopters, drones and other equipment to ensure the security of the electoral process.
Calls for Peaceful Participation
The National Peace Committee and the electoral authorities have called on the people of Ondo State to exercise their civic duty by coming out en masse to vote for the candidates of their choice, while desisting from selling their votes, which “contradicts the very essence of democracy.”
With the signing of the Peace Accord and the security measures in place, stakeholders are hopeful that the Ondo State governorship election will be conducted in a peaceful, free and fair manner, setting a positive precedent for future off-cycle elections in Nigeria.
