2023: Makinde, Adelabu, others sign peace Accord in Oyo
Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, also the Governorship candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); Adebayo Adelabu, Accord Party’s candidate and others, on Friday signed Peace Accord ahead of the 2023 general elections in the state.
Others governorship candidates who signed the accord at the Police Command in Oyo State, included Sen. Teslim Folarin, the Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), represented by his Deputy, David Okunlola.
They were Taofeek Akinwale, Labour Party candidate; Popolola Joshua, New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP); Olaniyi Adekunle, Action Alliance; Akeem Yusuf, ADP, among others.
The peace accord was signed in the presence of the state Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Williams, other Heads of Security agencies, traditional rulers and religious leaders.
In his remarks, Williams said that signing of the peace accord was a guide designed and undertaking to keep peace and good conduct among political actors and their supporters before, during and after the 2023 general elections.
The police chief said that the event also marked the official activation of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security driven by the mandate of providing a safe and secure environment for peaceful elections comes 2023.
Williams said there was need for repeated emphasis on a peaceful electioneering process before, during and after the exercise.
He called on the parties, their candidates and supporters to be guided by the guidelines for political rallies recently released by INEC.
“The command and indeed the security space is concerned about the disturbing extremities and desperation displayed by some political gladiators.
“Recently, Oyo State witnessed needless destruction of billboards and defacing of posters of opposing aspirants to stir up provocations and bloody reprisals, but for the prompt intervention of security operatives, it was curtailed,” he said.
The police chief enjoined the candidates and their supporters to ensure issue-based campaigns at all levels devoid of religious, ethnic and tribal incitements.
The Chief Convener, Peace Accord, Sen. Rashidi Ladoja, called on the candidates to take signing of the peace accord seriously.
Ladoja, also a former Governor in the state, urged political leaders in the state to ensure there was peaceful campaign before, during and after the election.
He said that there would be no election where there is no peace, enjoining them to shun bill boards vandalism.
Also, the State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of INEC, Dr Rahmon Adeniran, said that the commission was ever ready to conduct free, fair and credible election.
Adeniran said the total polling units in the state stood at 6,390, while about 340, 938 remain valid registrants out of the 396,229 fresh registration, leaving about 55, 291invalid registrants.
He said collection of PVCs is on adding that 743,693 PVCs remained uncollected by registrants in the state.
The REC further appealed to political parties and their candidates to remain civil and devoid abusive languages during their campaign activities.
Makinde, Adelabu and others governorship candidates pledged to abide by the peace accord.
They said that the event was a wake up call to them and their supporters to be peaceful throughout the campaign.
