By Elizabeth Vincent/YENAGOA,
Ahead of the forthcoming general elections in Nigeria political parties in Bayelsa state, have signed ‘Peace Accord’ in ensuring a peaceful conduct of the presidential and governorship elections in the state.
The “accord’ under the supervision of the state Commissioner of Police, Ben Okolo, was signed by all chairmen of political parties fielding candidates.
Speaking during the event at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Conference Centre in Yenagoa, CP Okolo commended all the political parties in state for going about their campaigns peacefully without any violence recorded so far.
He said “Bayelsa is one of the most peaceful state in Nigeria and i am urging all political parties not to instigate violence during and after the elections.
According to Okolo, “adequate security will be provided and all should be law abiding, during and after the election”.
On his part, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) said in the course of our preparations and execution of the activities, the Commission has constantly engaged stakeholders to keep them abreast of progress made as it works tirelessly to deliver on its mandate as enshrined in the Constitution, strictly guided by the Electoral Act 2022 as well as its Guidelines
He said that the duty of conducting a free, fair, peaceful, transparent and credible elections that is acceptable to all, is a task that, INEC as an Election Management Body cannot be achieve without the cooperation and active participation of all stakeholders.
“The activities of Political Parties from the moment election time table is published gives a clue to how the political space will be before, during and after the elections.
“If deliberate efforts are not made to check the excesses of some key players in the process the credibility and peace required for the success of the elections may be greatly compromised or outrightly jeopardized.
“Our meeting here today is a deliberate effort to domesticate the Peace Accord; a pact by all Candidates participating in the Elections here in Bayelsa State.
“The pact will be signed by Party Chairmen on behalf of themselves, the Party and Candidates. This action will demonstrate to their followers and supporters that irrespective of differences in their political views and inclinations they are first Bayelsa people.
” The elections will come and go, but Bayelsa will remain. It is also to remind leaders and their followers that they need each other to fulfill their goals to govern and deliver dividends to their constituents,” he said.
The Chairman Traditional Rulers Council, King Bubraye Dakolo, who witnessed the event, urged all to toll the part of peace during and after the elections.
He urged them to always remember former President Goodluck Jonathan, who said “my ambition does not worth anybody’s blood”.
