2019: 30 Governorship candidates sign Peace Accord in Gombe

Determined to have hitch-free and peaceful conduct of the general elections, Thirty governorship candidates in Gombe State have signed a Peace Accord.

While speaking at the occasion, Gombe State Governor, Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo described the peace accord as a major key in a democratic practice anywhere in the world.

He urged all the candidates to play the game by the rules and abide by the code of conduct as well as run issue-based campaigns at both state and local government levels.

The Governor also urged them to caution their supporters against violence or incitement ‎before, during and after the elections and accept the defeat in good faith.

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Hassan Dankwambo also implored all the candidates to work towards successful and peaceful conduct of the elections just as he condemned spilling of blood in any form and warned politicians against violence before, during and after the election.

Also speaking, the State Commissioner of Police, Garba Mohammed Mukaddas said that there will be no compromise in ensuring quality elections security service delivery by the security agencies in the state.

“It is our fervent hope that all the political parties gubernatorial candidate and their supporters will ensure that the accord 2019 is honoured and allowed to work so that our state will retain and sustain its position of being peaceful, hence remain as not only a jewel in the savannah but the jewel of the nation”, he said.

He also called on the all candidates, their supporters and the people of the state to speak out against violence, misinformation and hate speeches, saying,  “while we seek for the understanding support and cooperation of everyone in this respect and we advise each and every one of us to desist from all act or omissions that may lead to the breakdown of law and order in the state”.

In his remarks,  the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Umar Ibrahim said that a violent free election world over is critical to the credibility of the electoral process and sustenance of democracy, adding that, “This implies that there can never be credible elections without peace”.

He also said that the Independent National Electoral Commission is committed to creating a level playing field to all political parties regardless of religion or tribe.

Those who witnessed the event included all heads of the security agencies in the state, members of Civil Societies Organization (CSOs), traditional rulers among others.