By David Lawani
The Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu has charged Political Parties in the Anambra State Governorship election to show commitment in ensuring the essence of the Peace Accord signed is actualized.
Yakubu made this call in a remark as part of activities to round off the need to allay fear characterizing the political atmosphere in Anambra stressing that without peace the deployment plans, innovations in voter accreditation and result management, the safety of election duty personnel and accredited observers, security of election materials and ultimately the credibility of the polls will be undermined.
He said it is why everyone must support today’s Peace Accord and the work of the National Peace Committee, NPC, in general noting that INEC has done everything possible to ensure credible elections Anambra State under very difficult circumstance. ” I would like to appeal to all parties, candidates, and other actors to play their roles in support of the Peace Accord.
“Let me re-echo what the Chairman of the NPC has just said. Those who sign the Peace Accord must abide by its letter and spirit in words and deeds.
” We pray that God will grant General Abdulsalami Abubakar and the NPC the wisdom, courage and strength to continue to work for peace in our great country”, he noted.
He said the nation is fortunate to have respected former leaders such as General Abdulsalami Alhaji Abubakar whose commitment to peace and democracy in Nigeria and beyond is unquestionable.
“Each time we turn to the National Peace Committee (NPC) under his leadership for support, it has always responded positively. His personal presence here today is a further affirmation of his commitment to peace and credible elections in Nigeria.
“Many Nigerians may recall that when the NPC initiated the signing of the Peace Accord by Chairmen of political parties and candidates ahead of the 2015 and 2019 General Elections, the focus was on Presidential elections to the exclusion of other elections. Since then, INEC and other well-meaning Nigerians have appealed to the NPC to devolve the initiative to major off-season elections at the State level.
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“Concerned about the threat to peaceful elections, INEC appealed to the NPC to intervene in the last two Governorship elections. In response, and for the first time, the NPC organized the Peace Accord in Edo on 15th September 2020, followed by Ondo on 5th October 2020. Despite the palpable tension in the build-up to the two elections, Edo and Ondo passed off peacefully and the elections were adjudged by all to be free, fair and credible”, he noted.
The INEC Chairman said just like parties commit themselves to peace in Ondo and Edo, it is not out of place to also appeal to political parties in Anambra to be seen doing the same so that the outcome of the poll will reflect the will of the people of Anambra.
“Faced with the current situation in Anambra State, the Commission once again appealed to the NPC to bring parties and candidates to commit to peace before, during and after the election. We believe that Anambra cannot be different from Edo and Ondo. For this reason, we are also confident that just like Edo and Ondo, the election on Saturday will be peaceful and the outcome will reflect the will of the Anambra voters”, he said.
