Candidates of political parties participating in the Ondo State Governorship election on Tuesday signed a peace pact to make the election violence-free and peaceful.
The peace accord organised by the National Peace Committee, NPC was signed in Akure, Ondo State.
Among those who signed the peace accord are candidates of the All Progressives Congress,Rotimi Akeredolu, Peoples Democratic Party,Eyitayo Jegede,Zenith Labour Party and Akeredolu’s deputy, Agboola Ajayi.
Speaking at the ceremony, INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said, “Without peace, our deployment plans, new innovations in result management, safety of personnel, security of materials and above all, credibility of elections will be undermined.”
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Speaking after signing the peace accord, Akeredolu, candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, made a pledge to abide by the pact and ensure that his supporters were peaceful throughout the governorship poll.
“I make a pledge that I will abide by the peace accord I signed,” he said, adding that he had contested two elections before now and that they had been peaceful.
On his part, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP governorship candidate, Jegede said “We are convinced on the need for peace, not only in Ondo but in the entire nation.
“I am committed to a peaceful election. Before the election and during the election and after the election, we should follow a peaceful process.
“Fairness should be the principle applied by all. I Implore security agencies, such as the police to comply with the rule. They should arrest those causing violence,” he said.
Also, Ajayi, governorship candidate of Zenith Party, promised to abide by the pact he signed and ensure peaceful election on Saturday.
Sultan of Sokoto, Abukabar Saa’d; Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Hassan Kukah; former Bishop of Abuja Diocese, John Onaiyekan, and traditional rulers among others witnessed the signing.
