THUR 04 NOV, 2021-theGBJournal- Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has appealed to all parties, candidates and other actors to play their roles in support of the Peace Accord, initiated by National Peace Committee (NPC), which was signed today ahead of the gubernatorial election in the state this weekend.
‘’ Without peace, our deployment plans, innovations in voter accreditation and result management, safety of election duty personnel and accredited observers, security of election materials and ultimately the credibility of the polls will be undermined. That is why we must all support today’s Peace Accord and the work of the NPC in general,’’ the INEC boss told the stakeholders.
He said INEC has done everything possible to ensure credible elections in Anambra State under very difficult circumstance.
The former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Alhaji Abubakar and the team from the NPC were present to witness the signing ceremony.
‘’The nation is fortunate to have respected former leaders such as General Abubakar whose commitment to peace and democracy in Nigeria and beyond is unquestionable. Each time we turn to the National Peace Committee (NPC) under his leadership for support, it has always responded positively. His personal presence here today is a further affirmation of his commitment to peace and credible elections in Nigeria,’’ Yakubu said.
He recalled that when the NPC initiated the signing of the Peace Accord by Chairmen of political parties and candidates ahead of the 2015 and 2019 General Elections, the focus was on Presidential elections to the exclusion of other elections.
‘’Since then, INEC and other well-meaning Nigerians have appealed to the NPC to devolve the initiative to major off-season elections at State level.’’
Concerned about the threat to peaceful elections, INEC appealed to the NPC to intervene in the last two Governorship elections. In response, and for the first time, the NPC organized the Peace Accord in Edo on 15th September 2020, followed by Ondo on 5th October 2020. Despite the palpable tension in the build-up to the two elections, Edo and Ondo passed off peacefully and the elections were adjudged by all to be free, fair and credible.
Faced with the current situation in Anambra State, the Commission once again appealed to the NPC to bring parties and candidates to commit to peace before, during and after the election.
‘’We believe that Anambra cannot be different from Edo and Ondo. For this reason, we are also confident that just like Edo and Ondo, the election on Saturday will be peaceful and the outcome will reflect the will of the Anambra voters,’’ Yakubu said.
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