Political parties sign peace accord in Yobe

The 13 political parties participating in the forthcoming general elections in Yobe, on Thursday signed a “Peace Accord” pledging to ensure the peaceful conduct of the forthcoming elections.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that accord was signed at the state office of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Damaturu.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Yobe, Alhaji Ahmad Makama, in his opening remarks, said that one of the cardinal statutory objectives of INEC was to conduct a transparent, free, fair and credible election.
He said in line with this objective, the National Peace Committee had initiated signing of peace accord by candidates vying for the position of President of the country.
Makama said: “We consider the idea very wise, and that is why we are replicating same here in Yobe today.
“The programme involves all the governorship and senatorial candidates in the state.”
Makama said that the essence of signing the peace accord was for all the political parties and candidates to align with the commission towards ensuring conduct of transparent, free, fair and credible elections.
According to him, peace cannot be achieved without the cooperation of all the political parties.
Makama said that the programme was also organised by Inter Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security to guide the commission on all security-related issues before, during and after elections.
The ICCES chairman, Abdumalik Sanmonu, who is also the state Commissioner of Police, enjoined all the political parties and general public, especially the electorate, to be law-abiding.