The Chairman Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu has appealed to political parties and candidates to note that it is not their signatures on the peace document that will guarantee peaceful election but their commitment to its implementation that is critical.
Prof Yakubu made the appeal today 12th September, 2024 at the signing of the Peace Accord ahead of the Edo State Governorship Election held at the Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub, Benin.
Prof Yakubu admonishes political parties as they sign the Peace Accord, to commit themselves to the implementation and terms of the accord and pass the message to their supporters at all levels for compliance.
He noted that this is the best way to honour the effort and sacrifice of the Chairman and members of the NPC to peaceful elections.
He said, "Some of you here may recall that four years ago, the NPC took a historic decision to devolve the signing of the Peace Accord beyond the Presidential Election to include off-cycle Governorship Elections in view of the tension and violence often associated with the build-up to and conduct of such elections.
"The first Peace Accord outside Abuja was signed on Tuesday 15th September 2020 here in Benin City ahead of the last Governorship election held on 19th September 2020. Happily, political parties and candidates adhered to their commitments under the terms of the Peace Accord and the election was held peacefully in spite of the tension during the pre-election campaign activities.
"Once again, we are here in Edo State on the eve of another Governorship election. For us as the election management body, I want to assure political parties and candidates that we will continue to play our part according to the law and best practice as articulated in the clauses of the National Peace Accord that we are about to commit ourselves to."
