Kwara LG poll: Political parties sign undertaking

POLITICAL parties participating in the Saturday Local Government Election in Kwara state have signed an undertaking on peace and security demanded of them in the election.

Speaking at the election/security inter-agency consultative meeting in Ilorin on Tuesday, the chairman of the state electoral commission (KWSIEC), Alhaji Uthman Ajidagba, together with security agencies, resolved signing of the undertakings was part of arrangements to ensure that the election was peaceful.

Ajidagba, who said that peace was essential to a free and fair election, added that the decision to make the parties sign the undertaking was taken after it was observed that some politicians were making inciting utterances, which he said could cause violence in the election.

The KWASIEC boss said the electoral body was prepared to conduct a free, fair and credible election, urging participating political parties to cooperate with the body by being peaceful.

Also speaking, the state police commissioner who doubles as the chairman of the election security inter-agencies consultative forum, Lawan Ado, said the forum was committed to the maintenance of peace and order before, during and after the election.

Ado advised that any party or candidate who has any security related issue on the election should bring it up so that it could be addressed to ensure a peaceful election.

The police boss who said that security agents were ready to provide a level-playing field for all the parties, asked the parties to ensure they produce accredited representatives at polling, ward and local government collation centres to aid proper monitoring of the election.