2nd December, 2022
Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State who is also the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); Adebayo Adelabu, the Accord Party’s candidate and others on Friday signed Peace Accord ahead of the 2023 general elections in the state.
Other governorship candidates who signed the accord at the Police Command in Oyo State, included Sen. Teslim Folarin, the Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), represented by his Deputy, David Okunlola; Taofeek Akinwale, Labour Party candidate; Popolola Joshua, New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) candidate; Olaniyi Adekunle, Action Alliance; and Akeem Yusuf, ADP, among others.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the peace accord was signed in the presence of the state Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Williams, other Heads of Security agencies, traditional rulers and religious leaders.
In his remarks, Williams said that the signing of the peace accord was a guide designed and undertaken to keep peace and good conduct among political actors and their supporters before, during and after the 2023 general elections.
The police chief said that the event also marked the official activation of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security driven by the mandate of providing a safe and secure environment for peaceful elections in 2023.
Williams said there was a need for emphasis on a peaceful electioneering process before, during and after the exercise.
He called on the parties, their candidates and their supporters to be guided by the guidelines for political rallies recently released by INEC.
“The command and indeed the security space is concerned about the disturbing desperation displayed by some political gladiators.
“Recently, Oyo State witnessed needless destruction of billboards and defacing of posters of opposing aspirants to stir up provocations and bloody reprisals, but for the prompt intervention of security operatives, it was curtailed,” he said.
The police chief enjoined the candidates and their supporters to ensure issue-based campaigns at all levels devoid of religious, ethnic and tribal incitements.
The Chief Convener of the Peace Accord, Sen. Rashidi Ladoja called on the candidates to take the signing of the peace accord seriously.
Ladoja, also a former Governor of the state, urged political leaders in the state to ensure peaceful campaigns before, during and after the election.
He said that there would be no election where there is no peace, enjoining them to shun billboard vandalism.
Also, the State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of INEC, Dr Rahmon Adeniran, said that the commission was ever ready to conduct a free, fair and credible election.
Adeniran said the total polling units in the state stood at 6,390, while about 340, 938 remain valid registrants out of the 396,229 fresh registrants, leaving about 55, 291 invalid registrants.
He said the collection of PVCs was on, adding that 743,693 PVCs remained uncollected by registrants in the state.
The REC further appealed to political parties and their candidates to remain civil and devoid of abusive language during their campaign activities.
Makinde, Adelabu and other governorship candidates pledged to abide by the peace accord.