Nothing meaningful can be achieved without peace in the electoral process, the National Peace Committee, NPC, has warned.
The warning was given by the chairman of the committee, former Head of State, Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar, on Tuesday during the signing of peace accord by the political parties and their candidates.
The signing of the accord was held in Akure, Ondo State capital ahead of the October 10, 2020 Ondo State governorship election.
The committee chairman called on all parties participating in the election to ensure peaceful conduct in all ramifications.
The peace accord is an initiative of the NPC.
Abubakar joined the event virtually, saying the initiative was a contribution to the improvement of the country’s electoral process.
Present at the occasion were the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, representative of the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, other top security officers, traditional rulers and clerics.
The Sultan of Sokoto Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim, were among dignitaries that witnessed the signing of the peace accord.
Speaking at the occasion, Sa’ad Abubakar urged the political gladiators not to see the signing of the peace accord as a mere formality but as a commitment of responsibility for the outcome of the election.
“Power belongs to the Almighty God and He gives it to whom He wishes and at the time He wants,” he said.
He appealed to the contestants and their supporters to abide by the provisions of the electoral laws before, during and after the election.
The Sultan also advised youths in the state not to allow themselves to be used as political thugs by politicians.
Earlier in his remarks, the Convener of the National Peace Committee, Most Rev Dr Matthew Hassan Kukah appealed to the contestants to abide by the electoral laws and support the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct a free, fair and credible poll as was the case recently in Edo State.
INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu commended the NPC for its role in ensuring the credibility and peaceful conduct of elections in the country.
He said the intervention of the committee had contributed in no small measure to the peaceful conduct of the Edo State governorship election.
“INEC will continue to support the committee for the conduct of peaceful elections in the country.
“Political parties and their candidates should affirm, respect, support, promote and commit to peaceful elections,” Yakubu said.
He added that without peace, the safety of personnel and materials as well as electoral credibility would be a mirage.
Other speakers at the ceremony included the chairman of Ondo State Council of Traditional Rulers, Oba Frederick Akinruntan, the Olugbo of Ugbo Kingdom and Inspector-General of Police, represented by the DIG Research and Planning, Force Headquarters Abuja, Mr Leye Oyebade.
Speaking to newsmen at the venue, the NYSC Director-General General restated his assurance on the neutrality of corps members during the election.
“My appeal to the people of Ondo State is to protect my corps members and nothing untoward should happen to them,” he said.
