From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
Eighteen Governorship Candidates of various political parties in Kogi state on Wednesday, signed peace accord to avert acts capable of breeding violence before, during and after the November 11 governorship polls.
The ceremony which was performed by the National Peace Committee is aimed at ensuring peaceful and transparent conduct of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC.
Chairman of the National Peace Committee, General Abdulsalami Abubakar called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to use this off circle election to be conducted in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states to redeem it’s battered image before Nigerians saying the image of the commission is currently very low.
The Chairman of the Committee, represented by Cardinal John Onaiyekan, gave this advice in lokoja during the signing of peace accord by the 18 political parties in kogi state and their governorship candidates.
He said Nigerians are beginning to loose confidence on the ability of the commission to conduct free fair and credible election owing to it’s past record in previous elections in the country and urged the commission to match it’s words with actions.
While identifying three groups that are responsible for peaceful and transparent election, he mentioned the electorate who are to choose credible leaders , the contestants who are to conduct themselves in a peaceful manner and the government agencies such as INEC, security who are to remain neutral and transparent during the election.
General Abdulsalami Abubakar urged the contestants and their political parties not to see the signing of the peace accord as a mere tradition but to abide by the contents of rules and regulations guiding the election.
Speaking on behalf of the INEC chairman, the National commissioner representing Kogi ,Nasarawa and Kwara State, Alhaji Sanni Mohammed Adam reiterated that INEC will conduct free, fair, transparent and credible election.
He however called on the political players to caution their supporters to abide by the rule of the game and thank the National Peace committee for organising the peace accord.
The Deputy Inspector-general in charge of Force Intelligence, Mr A.H Sanni who represented the IGP on the occasion assured the Committee and indeed all the people in the state that the election will go peacefully as all machinery towards that have been put in place.