The governorship candidates in Saturday’s November 6 election in Anambra state on Thursday signed a peace accord in Awka, Anambra state capital.
The peace accord signing ceremony took place at the Dora Akunyili Women Development Centre, Awka.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Mr. Valentine Ozigbo, Senator Andy Uba of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Obiora Okonkwo, of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Prof. Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and Dr. Godwin Maduka of the Accord Party and among others were present.
The peace accord signing was facilitated by the National Peace Committee, Abuja, headed by General Abdulsalami Abubakar.
In his address, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said that without peace, the Commission’s deployment plans, new innovations in result management, safety of personnel, security of materials and above all, credibility of elections will be undermined.
According to him, the Commission is committed to conducting a transparent and credible election.
The Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Usman Baba Alkali, represented by DIG in charge of Operation, Mr. Zaki Ahmed, said that peace must be maintained before, during and after the Anambra election.
The Chairman of the Peace Committee, and former Head of State General Abdulsami Abubakar (rtd), in his address said that the signing of Peace Accord by the governorship candidates was “a way of reaffirming that they must conduct themselves in a professional and peaceful manner ahead of the Governorship election.”
H“With what I have seen here, in Anambra state, I believe, Anambra will witness a free, fair and credible election,” he said.
Abdulsalami, appealed to concerned stakeholders to cooperate with the INEC and security agencies for a free exercise.
Also, the Bishop of Sokoto Catholic Diocese, Mathew Hasan Kuka has said that there is no threat to the Anambra governorship election and urged voters to go and vote.
Kukah told journalists in an interview that anyone who did not participate in the November 6 election cannot attribute it to poor security arrangement.
He said, “From what we have on ground by the security operatives and the Independent National Electoral Commission, I do not see any threat to the election and anyone who refuses to come out and vote, does not want to vote because there is no security threat at all and the Inspector General of Police has assured us that they are prepared for the election.
“I encourage any electorate with the INEC voter’s card in the state to feel free and come out for the election,” Bishop Kuka said.