By; ADAMA JOHN, Lokoja
Eighteen governorship candidates of political parties in Kogi State have signed peace accord on Wednesday to ensure hitch free elections 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 due in the three states of Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi to redeem it’s tarnished image before Nigerians.
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.
To him, those responsible for peaceful and transparent election are 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, and security who are to remain neutral and transparent during the election.
General Abdulsalami urged the contestants and their political parties not to see the signing of the peace accord as a mere ritual but to abide by the contents of rules and regulations guiding the election.
Responding on behalf of the INEC chairman, the National commissioner representing Kogi ,Nasarawa and Kwara States, Alhaji Sanni Mohammed Adam reiterated the commitment of the electoral umpire to 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 thanked the National Peace committee for organising the peace accord.
The Deputy Inspector-general of Police 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 be peacefully as all necessary machineries for the conduct of the election have been put in place.
