In a bid to foster peace and prevent electoral violence, eighteen political parties in Ondo State, located in Southwest Nigeria, have signed a Peace Accord. This all important agreement commits the parties to a peaceful gubernatorial election and to respecting the election results, as long as the process is deemed free and fair.
The peace accord was facilitated by the National Peace Committee, chaired by former Nigerian Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar. During the event, General Abubakar urged all candidates and their parties to adhere strictly to democratic principles, avoid vote trading, and maintain the country’s peace and stability.
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, delivered a goodwill message acknowledging the peaceful atmosphere in Ondo ahead of the election. Professor Yakubu confirmed that no security incidents have been reported thus far and reassured citizens of INEC’s commitment to smooth operations on election day, pledging logistical improvements to facilitate a seamless voting experience.
In support of the peace accord, the Inspector General of Police, represented by DIG Sylvester Abiodun, outlined security measures to ensure safety across Ondo’s 18 local government areas. The police have deployed over 36,000 officers for the election, backed by other security agencies, bringing the total number of personnel to 43,157.
Ondo State’s Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, praised the National Peace Committee’s efforts, vowing to abide by the terms of the accord and safeguard democracy. He encouraged other candidates to honor their commitments to peace, expressing confidence that the accord would sustain the peaceful atmosphere during and after the election.
