Ahead of the Saturday Presidential and National Assembly Elections holding in Nigeria, fourteen (14) political parties in Kwara state, North-central Nigeria, have signed a peace accord document.
Three out of the seventeen political parties who did not field candidates and were absent at the event include the African Action Congress (AAC); the Labour Party (LP); and the People’s Redemption Party (PRP).
The signing of the Peace Accord took place at the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital.
The event was witnessed by representatives of security agencies, international and local election observers as well as the media.
In his remarks at the event, the State Resident Electoral Commisssioner (REC) Mallam Garba Attahiru Madami commended the willingness of the political parties to voluntary sign the peace accord.
The REC urged the political parties to abide by the content of the document and assured all stakeholders of INEC’s readiness to deliver the best election in the state and the country in general without fear or favour.
Speaking on behalf of other security operatives, the State Commissioner of Police, Paul Odama, said the security agencies will ensure adequate security before, during and after the elections.
In his speech on behalf of all the political parties, the State Deputy Chairman Inter Party Advisory Council, Mr. Shina Ajisafe, said all the political parties will ensure strict adherence to the peace accord.
In an interview with VON’s correspondent, one of the Long Term Observer of the European Union Election Observation Mission, Nigeria 2023, Nuno Simoes, said the team was in the state to observe the election and thereafter submit its report to the union’s headquarters.
He noted with satisfaction the conduct of the political parties during the signing of the peace accord and expressed hope that the elections would end peacefully.
Edited by Amaka E. Nliam
