Parties, stakeholders sign peace pact ahead Ondo poll

POLITICAL parties and stakeholders in the November 26 governorship poll in Ondo State, on Wednesday signed a peace accord to ensure a smooth and violent free election in the state.

The Commissioner of Police, Ondo state command, Mrs Hilda Harrison, who coordinated the pact, warned politicians and their supporter against breaching the existing peace in the state before, during and after the election.

She stated that the peace pact became necessary “to prevent violence and maintain law and order and peace before, during and after the election and to avoid any conduct that will endanger the political stability of the state and the national security of Nigeria.”

The police boss, who warned against the removal of posters by political rivals, stated that some ugly incident had been recorded in the state over the development but assured that the perpetrators would soon be arrested.

Harrison also noted that there were reports of sporadic shootings during campaigns and warned against the use of any object that could cause harm to the people.

“Play the game by the rules and stay away from trouble and be a law abiding for peace to be sustained in our state. Do not take laws into your hands, report those destroying posters to the security agents,” she advised.

The commissioner, however, disclosed that more than 24,000 police personnel would be deployed to the state to compliment his men on ground to ensure the success of the election.

She urged the politicians and parties to run issue- based campaigns refrain from campaign of calumny, religious sentiment, ethnic chauvinism or tribal jingoism.

The peace accord read: “To forcefully and publicly speak out against provocative utterances and oppose any act of electoral malfeasance whether perpetrated by supporters or opponents; to commit themselves and political parties to the monitoring of the adherence to this accord, if necessary, by state peace committee made up of respected statemen and women; “to respect the rule of law and abide by the provision of section 129 of the Electoral Act 2010 on Electoral offences.”