Seventeen of 18 political parties participating in next week’s governorship election in Edo State yesterday signed a peace accord organised by the Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar-led National Peace Committee.
The event took place at the Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub, on Airport Road, Benin, and it was witnessed by the former Head of State (Abubakar); the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Dr. Kayode Egbetokun; the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu; and the Convener of the National Peace Committee (NPC), Bishop Matthew Kukah; among other eminent personalities.
The ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) boycotted the signing of the accord to protest the idea of deploying Dr. Anugbum Onuoha and Nemi Edwin-Iwo, associates of the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and former Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike as the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) and the Commissioner of Police respectively.
PDP chairman Dr Tony Aziegbemi and the party’s flag bearer, Dr Asue Ighodalo were present at the venue from the beginning to the end, but they refused to sign, insisting that they were at the event to register their protest before the peace committee about the arrest and detention of 10 of their members who they insist are deliberately being kept out of circulation until after the election.
Dr Aziegbemi and the PDP candidate initially moved at 12:25 p.m. to the podium, where the peace accord was being signed, but they gently protested to Bishop Kukah, who was coordinating the signing. They also moved to where Gen. Abubakar was seated and repeated the protest.
Gen. Abubakar later announced that Aziegbemi and Ighodalo gave some conditions (undisclosed) that they insisted must be met before they sign the accord later in Abuja.
Governor Godwin Obaseki, the leader of the PDP in Edo, had on Wednesday indicated that the party might not sign the peace accord, because the agency (the police) responsible for enforcing the accord had, through their action, shown that they were acting in the interest of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and waging war against the PDP.
Obaseki spoke when he received Gen. Abubakar, who was on a courtesy visit to the Government House, Benin.
The signing of the accord was also witnessed by the reinstated Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu, who recently defected from the PDP to the APC; and former APC National Chairman, Senator Adams Oshiomhole.
Gen. Abubakar said the signing of the peace accord was not just a ceremony, but an important commitment to uphold the peace, unity, and democratic values.
He said the signing of this peace accord signifies the readiness of the political parties and their candidates to place the interest of the people they intend to serve above their individual or party ambitions.
He added: “It is a commitment to conduct campaigns free of hate speech, incitement, and violence, and to accept the outcome of the votes, as long as it is adjudged to be free, fair and credible. Elections are a pillar of democracy, and in democracy, there are no losers; only participants who play their part in advancing the will of the people they represent and serve.
“I appeal to the esteemed candidates, parties and their supporters to remember that peace is the foundation upon which progress and development is built and established. Without it, none of the promises made to the people of Edo state can be fulfilled.”
Bishop Hassan Kukah charged the candidates to see peace as a foundation for a credible election. He said that the task before the committee was to support INEC to ensure a peaceful election devoid of violence. He added: “We should be thankful for our country because some other African countries are in crisis because of unresolved political issues. Let us thank God that we have the opportunity in Nigeria to stretch our hands in search of justice.”
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Gov. Godwin Obaseki, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Joseph Eboigbe, expressed concern over the continuous detention of PDP members in Abuja.
He, however, assured the Peace Committee of the safety of all stakeholders during and after the election.
IGP Egbetokun assured that the police, in collaboration with other security agencies, would be supporting INEC to conduct a hitch-free election. He said: “I am here today to reaffirm our commitment to a peaceful and secure electoral process. We recognise the importance of this movement, and the trust placed in us to protect the integrity of this election.
“We will remain impartial, professional and vigilant while providing a level playing ground for political parties and their candidates. I urge all stakeholders to embrace peace, tolerance and respect for the democratic process.”
The INEC chairman, Prof. Yakubu reiterated that four years ago the NPC took a historic decision to devolve the signing of the peace accord beyond the presidential election to include off-cycle governorship elections, given the tension and violence often associated with the build-up to and conduct of such elections.
He said: “The first peace accord outside Abuja was signed on Tuesday, September 15, 2020, here in Benin City, ahead of the last governorship election, held on September 19, 2020. Happily, political parties and candidates adhered to their commitments under the terms of the peace accord and the election was held peacefully, despite the tension during the pre-election campaign activities.
“Once again, we are here in Edo State, on the eve of another governorship election. As the election management body, I want to assure political parties and candidates that we will continue to play our part, according to the law and best practice, as articulated in the clauses of the National Peace Accord that we are about to commit ourselves to.
“I appeal to political parties and candidates to note that it is not your signatures on the peace document that will guarantee peaceful election; it is your commitment to its implementation that is critical.”
The Nation
