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Tag: peace accord

  • Anambra Poll: Top governorship candidates sign peace accord

    Anambra Poll: Top governorship candidates sign peace accord

    Candidates in the imminent Anambra governorship election on Thursday signed a peace accord in Awka, the state captial.

    The election is slated for Saturday.

    Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, was present at the ceremony, which was facilitated by the National Peace Committee.

    The NPC is chaired by former military Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar.

    Ifeanyi Uba of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), Andy Uba of the All Progressives Congress and Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) were among the signees on Thursday.

    Others were Valentine Ozigbo of the Peoples Democratic Party, Godwin Maduka of the Accord Party (AP), Etiaba Chukwuogo of the Action Alliance (AA), Nwankwo Chidozie of the African Action Congress (AAC), Onyejegbu Okwudili of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Ohajimkpo Emeka of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Ezenwafor Victor of the National Rescue Movement (NRM), Nnamdi Nwawuo of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP), Uzo Godwin of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), and Okonkwo Francis of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

    Anambra, as in much of the South-East, has witnessed several ‘gunmen’ attacks, casting doubts on the safety of the elections.

    The proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has also threatened the sanctity of the election if its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, is not released from detention.

    But the Federal Government has beefed up security in the state, pledging a free and fair poll.

    On Tuesday, Senate minority leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe urged voters to show up at the polls, noting that the elections will be safe.

    The accord is equally binding on the candidate’s political parties and is expected to encourage signees to take proactive steps “towards ensuring a conducive environment for the conduct of a credible electoral process.”

    The signees also pledged to “fully abide by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to respect the rules and regulations as laid down in the Legal Framework for Elections in Nigeria, and to adhere to best international standards.”

    Under the accord, the candidates and their parties are expected to “support all institutions of government involved in conducting or securing the elections – in particular INEC and the security forces – to act with professionalism, impartiality and transparency.”

    They are also to “encourage state agencies, institutions and public officers not to support partisan interests in any form” and to “encourage their political stalwarts and supporters to desist from propagating fake news and publishing fake results via social media and to ensure uninterrupted and uncompromised freedom of expression and information, both online and offline, throughout the electoral process.”

    The accord demands of the signees to “respect that the results can only be announced by INEC, and to accept the outcome of the vote, as long as it is adjudged to be free, fair and credible, devoid of intimidation and conducted in accordance with the provisions of the law.”

     

  • Edo Poll: Obaseki, Ize-Iyamu, others sign peace accord in Benin

    Edo Poll: Obaseki, Ize-Iyamu, others sign peace accord in Benin

    Ahead of the Saturday Edo governorship poll, candidates for the election on Tuesday signed a peace accord, pledging to abide by the rules and regulations as stipulated in the electoral law.

    Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar (rtd.), the Chairman of the National Peace Committee (NPC) and former Head of State, said at the occasion that Edo deserved peace.

    He said: “As you are aware, since 1999, every election in Nigeria has been conducted with various degree of violence.

    “The tension and anxiety associated with election necessitated the setting up of the NPC who is to support peaceful election process and enthrone culture of peace.

    “The gubernatorial election in Edo state is only a few days away and we want peace during and after the election.

    “We want to see Nigeria as a place where people come out peacefully duri g election and cast their votes without deprivation, intimidation and cohesion.’’

    According to him, the NPC is in Edo today to support this process and not just signing the peace accord by all candidates but to encourage you all to accept the result no matter the outcome.

    The Chairman commended the Benin Monarch for the role he played in bringing peace to Edo.

    “By signing this peace accord today, you are committing yourselves to ensure an enduring peace in Nigeria and Edo State before, during and after the election.

    “We have been given assurances by the INEC Chairman who told us that they were ready with all the necessary logistics to conduct free and fair election.

    “So, the rest is left for you and the voters to do the right thing by desisting from selling your votes, vote buying, selling your right, conscience and freedom,” he added.

    He, however, called on all stakeholders to use the Edo election as a test for future elections in the country.

    Gov. Godwin Obaseki, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), governorship candidate, said shortly after signing the peace accord, that he was fully committed to ensuring that the election was violence free.

    “In addition to being a candidate, I am the Chief Security Officer of the state. I have no choice therefore, than to state publicly, once again, that we are committed to peace in our dear state.

    “Let me appeal to this national peace committee to extend same to some other political actors in the state who have influence in the political space,” Obaseki said.

    The governor urged the peace committee to ensure that the political actors, not only signed the accord, but to persuade them to see the need to ensure peace in the state.

    On his part, the All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate, Osagie Ize-iyamu, promised to talk to his supporters to conduct themselves in a manner to achieve peaceful poll.

    “We are grateful to the peace committee, INEC and the Police. We are also grateful to the Oba of Benin because, what we are witnessing today was actually initiated few weeks ago by the Oba,” he said.

    The Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, thanked President Muhammadu Buhari and members of the NPC for their efforts to ensure a peaceful poll in Edo.

    The Oba, represented by the Esogban of Benin, Chief David Edebiri, appealed to the Edo people to shun violence during the exercise.

    Earlier, The Chairman of INEC, Mahmood Yakubu, said the commission was fully prepared for the election, adding that all arrangements for the poll had been concluded.

    The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Most. Rev. Matthew Kukah, the Co-convener of the event, urged the candidates not to see the signing of the accord as a mere ceremony, but to ensure peace.

  • Edo 2020: Obaseki, Ize-Iyamu must sign peace accord – INEC

    Edo 2020: Obaseki, Ize-Iyamu must sign peace accord – INEC

    Apparently disturbed by the drumbeats of war echoing ahead of the Edo guber polls on September 19, the apex electoral body, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has insisted that Governor Godwin Obaseki and his rival, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu must sign a peace accord next week Tuesday.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that the apex body on Electoral matters made this declaration in a press briefing in Abuja ahead the guber polls.

    Chairman of INEC, Mahmoud Yakubu said the candidates participating in the September 19 governorship election in Edo State will sign a peace accord on Tuesday.

    Mahmood also said about 17,000 ad hoc staff would be recruited for the election, noting that the PTF guidelines and safety measured would be strictly obeyed as the commission was going to operate a no-facemask, no voting policy at the poll.

    Before now, the reverred Oba of Bini too had summoned both Obaseki and Ize-Iyamu to the palace where he cautioned both leaders and their followers to shun violence and embrace peace before and after the guber polls.

    Tension and fears of bloodshed had gripped Edolites who believe that the election may lead to turmoil if not quickly nipped in the bud.

  • Kidnapping: Zamfara initiates peace accord with bandits, secures release of another 26 captives

    Kidnapping: Zamfara initiates peace accord with bandits, secures release of another 26 captives

    Mr Usman Nagogo, the Commissioner of Police in Zamfara, has assured that another 26 captives would be released by bandits following a peace accord dialogue.
    Nagogo made this known on Monday while addressing newsmen in Gusau.
    He said the peace accord committee instituted by government had already succeeded in securing the freedom of 51 captives through negotiations from the areas of Dansadau, Kaura Namoda and Shinkafi in less than a week.
    “We have our contact committee that are discussing with the bandits and the reports we are receiving is encouraging; very soon the captives will regain their freedom,” he said.
    He said the next step for the dialogue after securing release of all the captives was to start disarmament and collection of all riffles and other sophisticated weapons from the hands of both local militants and bandits.
    He commended the National Chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, who was about to bring two riffles surrendered by one person to the command, saying that his commitment to success of the dialogue deserved appreciation.
    He also expressed appreciation to the two warring parties for keeping to the peace accord and enjoined them to sustain the tempo.
    Nagogo equally urged newsmen to continue to report facts with unbiased mind and sense of professionalism.
     

  • Gov. Udom, 36 Governorship Candidates sign Peace Accord in Akwa Ibom

    Thirty seven governorship candidates in Akwa Ibom on Wednesday signed peace accord to ensure peaceful conduct of the forthcoming election in the state.

    The event was organised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for candidates seeking elective positions in the general election in the state.

    INEC Residential Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Mr Mike Igini said during the event in Uyo, that the accord would help the commission to conduct free, fair, credible and non-violent election.

    He said the spirit of the accord should reflect in the lives of politicians and candidates in the state.

    “For us it is a great one to have all candidates and political parties signing the peace accord.

    “The fact that we are talking of peace accord, is an indicative of the kind of people that we have,” he said.

    Igini said the commission would stand tall and mighty to defend democracy and rule of law, adding that democracy cannot be completed without rule of law.

    According to him, election period is not a period that people will be talking about violence.

    Igini noted that the commission would not use incidence form during the general election in the state.

    He said accreditation of voters would be done with card reader machines and voters’ register.

    Igini advised political parties and candidates to nominate agents that would assist in the election procedure as set out by the Electoral Act and INEC.

    He reminded voters that the commission had banned the use of mobile phones within polling units to check vote buying.

    He appealed to politicians to be peaceful and assured that INEC would be an unbiased umpire.

    Also speaking, ACP Augustine Aruk, the Chairman of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), said the police were determined to ensure that elections are conducted in a peaceful in manner.

    “It is our role to protect electoral materials, personnel and this time security agencies are very ready for the general election.

    “We are aware of our role during the election to provide security to all sundry,” he said.

    Aruk said security agencies had been trained for the general election in the state.

    Former governor of the state, Obong Victor Attah commended INEC for bringing the parties together to sign the accord.

    He, however, stressed that a collation process devoid of manipulations would go a long way to ensure free, fair, credible and violence free election.

    Attah called on politicians to conduct themselves in a manner that would not mare the election.

     

  • 2019: PDP threatens to pull out of peace accord

    Nigeria’s main opposition, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has threatened to pull out of the peace accord signed by the party and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar ahead of the general elections.

    The party based its reasons on what it described as comments, threats and incendiary actions by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Buhari-led presidency which, they said, are directly inimical to a peaceful, free and fair election.

    The party made this known via a statement by its national publicity secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, on Tuesday, in Abuja.

    Ologbondiyan was reacting to comments made by Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai where he threatened to murder foreigners who might interfere in Nigeria’s forthcoming general elections.

    His comments came about a week after the Nigerian government accused foreign powers including the United States, United Kingdom and the European Union of actions that could be deemed as interference, and warned of consequences.

    The three entities had condemned the suspension of Chief Justice Walter Onnoghen, warning that the decision by Nigeria’s president, Muhammadu Buhari, could affect the credibility of the general elections, just weeks away.

    Ologbondiyan expressed his party’s shock over the governor’s comments that members of the global democratic institutions who are working for a peaceful election in Nigeria will return to their countries in body bags. “What a threat?” he said.

    He called on international community to immediately impose a travel ban on el-Rufai for his inciting comments against peaceful elections in the country.

    He also alleged that there was a plot to redeploy, a former Chief Security Officer to APC leader, Bola Tinubu, Kayode Egbetokun, as Kwara state Commissioner of Police, where he has been handed the instruction to incite the people, cause pandemonium and pave the way for outright rigging in favour of President Buhari and all other candidates on the platform of the APC.

    “This is in line with plans by the Buhari Presidency and the APC to effect a mass deployment of top security officers, particularly the police, to intimidate, harass and manhandle Nigerians that will not support the self-succession bid of President Muhammadu Buhari as well as aiding APC thugs to snatch ballot boxes and orchestrate violence in the elections.”

    “Nigerians are aware of how CP Kayode Egbetokun was posted to Lagos state by the disgraced former Inspector General of Police, Idris Ibrahim, to serve the same partisan interest and how that posting was stopped by the new IGP Adamu Mohammed. Now, he is being redeployed to Kwara state for the same ignoble plot.”

    He said his party, PDP, is committed to the peace accord but, the deployment of the Kayode Egbetokun as Kwara CP “directly negates the principle of the Peace Accord and can only hurt the fragile peace that currently exists in Kwara state.”

    “We wish to remind the acting Inspector General, Adamu Mohammed that his acceptability among Nigerians across party line was based on the pedigree, which was presented to Nigerians before his appointment.”

    “These pedigree and exposure place on his shoulders, the responsibility to be just, firm, equitable and professional in the discharge of his duties. We, therefore, urge him not to allow his reputation to be mired in controversial political activities.”

    The party called on the National Peace Committee to note the “infractions” by the APC and its leaders to the peace accord, including the provocative shut down of all the stadia in Kano state by the state governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, in order to frustrate the PDP Presidential campaign rallies in the state.

    “We, therefore, call on the National Peace Committee to immediately summon El-Rufai on his inflammatory remarks against (the) peaceful election in our country.”

    “The PDP holds that any situation that seeks to allow the APC to abuse the tenets of the accord will definitely force our party to review our signatory to the peace process.”

    “In that regard, we might have no option left than to allow our members to defend their votes with whatever that is available to them.”

    “This country belongs to all of us and no individual or group, no matter how highly placed, can subjugate other citizens or seek to appropriate any sort of absolutism to themselves.”

  • Delta 2019: Okowa, Ogboru, 47 other governorship candidates sign peace accord

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has facilitated the signing of peace accord by political parties and their governorship candidates in Delta State.

    Among the political parties that entered into the peace agreement is the ruling People’s Democratic Party, PDP, which has Dr Ifeanyi Okowa as its governorship candidate and the main opposition party in the state, All Progressives Congress, APC which has Chief Great Ogboru as its candidate among 47 others.

    The Acting Administrative Secretary of INEC in the state, Mr Felix Enabor, who briefed newsmen said the peace accord, signed by chairmen of political parties and their governorship candidates, was meant to ensure that the forthcoming elections were conducted in a peaceful atmosphere.

    He assured all contestants of the commission’s neutrality before, during and after the elections.

    “Our goal is to deliver free , fair , credible and conclusive elections . But the enabling environment must be given to the commission to do its work properly and serve you well ,” he said .

    Enabor disclosed that 49 political parties would be participating in the governorship election in the state .

    He also disclosed that 2 ,823 ,161 voters were registered by the commission in the state , adding that 465 , 317 PVCs had yet to be collected.

    The Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, Anthony Ogbizi, said the meeting between INEC and political parties was to ensure peaceful, free and fair elections.

    He called on political parties to warn their supporters against violence as the police would not hesitate to arrest anyone found instigating violence.

    He said, “This meeting is to remind the political parties and their supporters to ensure peaceful and free elections in 2019 because where trouble erupts, we will not hesitate to advise INEC to cancel or postpone election in that area.

    “As a command, we have prepared to provide adequate security during and after the elections. It is to tell you that election is not a do -or – die affair. Please cooperate with us and call your supporters to order.”

    Also the state coordinator of National Youth Service Corps, Mr Ayodele Benjamin, reminded politicians that corps members who would participate in the elections were their children that should be protected .

    “You are aware that NYSC is a major stakeholder in the conduct of elections in Nigeria. Therefore, I appeal to the parents and politicians to remember that these corps members are your people . We don’ t want to receive corpses after the elections, ” he said .

  • 2019: Buhari, Atiku, others to sign Peace Accord

    President Muhammadu Buhari and other presidential candidates, including Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are to sign Peace Accord to ensure smooth conduct of 2019 general elections.

    The event, slated for International Conference Centre, Abuja, on Tuesday at 3.0 p.m is being organised by the National Peace Committee.

    The committee is headed by former Military Head of State, retired Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar.

    The Peace Accord is an undertaking by all the presidential candidates to ensure peaceful and rancor free campaigns before, during and after the 2019 general elections.

    The candidates are also expected to avoid hate speech, fake news or any act capable of causing socio-political unrest in the country.

    The leadership of the affected political parties as well as the Chairman of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) are also expected to grace the event.

    Other presidential candidates expected to sign the peace agreement include: Mr Donald Duke-Social Democratic Party (SDP); Mr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim- Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN), Mr Omoyele Sowore-African Action Congress (AAC) and Mrs Obi Ezekwesili- Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN).

    Others are Dr Obadiah Mailafia-African Democratic Congress (ADC); Prof. Kingsley Moghalu – Young Progressive Party (YPP); Pastor Chris Okotie – Fresh Democratic Party (FDP) retired Major Hamza Al-Mustapha-Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN).

    Habib Gajo-Young Democratic Party (YDP); retired Maj- Gen. John Gbor – All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA); Ali Soyode-YES Party and Dr Davidson Akhimien-Grassroots Development Party of Nigeria (GDPN) are also expected to sign the Peace Accord.