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Ahead of the July 16 governorship election in Osun state, candidates from all political parties contesting in the election have put pen to paper to sign a peace accord.
National peace committee convener, Rev. Bishop Mattew Hassan Kukah, noted that violence is a fundamental threat to the country’s democracy.
He, however, charged the aspirants and politicians to see the signing of the peace accord as a symbolic commitment to democracy adding that Nigeria desperately needs a peaceful environment.
Also speaking, the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu appealed to all political parties, candidates and other actors to play their part in supporting the Peace Accord. It is not enough to simply sign the Peace Accord.
Speaking on the peace accord earlier in the week, the chairman of the National Peace Committee(NPC) and former Head of State, General Abdusalami Abubakar (rtd), urged all aspirants to exhibit good attitude on election day.
Abubakar also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) and all stakeholders to consolidate on the success of the recently held Ekiti State governorship poll.
He equally appealed to the electorate to come out en masse, exercising their civic rights to vote, without fear of violence and with the understanding that the structures for growth are dependent on peace, and also expressed concern over the growing trend of vote-buying.
The NPC further called on all stakeholders in the traditional institutions, media, and civil society to be alert to their responsibilities as envoys of democratic values which are the means to attaining good governance, resulting in the nation’s collective growth and development.
“The INEC, the elections ombudsman, security agencies, and other government agencies that facilitate the conduct of the electoral process should do so with transparency, particularly because the entire nation and the world are watching. All contestants – irrespective of their political platform, should be treated with fairness and equity. We call on INEC and the security agencies to ensure inclusivity, facilitating an electoral exercise where the electorate is not disenfranchised because of gender, religious beliefs, ethnic affiliation, or disability.
” It is important that public trust in the process is continually built and reinforced through free, credible, and transparent elections in the state. We particularly urge that appropriate procedure are implemented to ensure the unhealthy and seemingly pervasive practice of voter inducement, commonly called “vote-buying”. The law in all its capacity and requirements should be applied to those involved in such a criminal act, both the buyer and seller,” Abubakar added.