Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji on Thursday reaffirmed his strong commitment to ensuring peace before, during and after the June 20 governorship election in the State.
Governor Oyebanji made the pledge in Ado-Ekiti during the signing of peace accord alongside 11 other governorship candidates of political parties in the June 20 governorship election.
The peace pact was organised by the National Peace Committee in partnership with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the signing of the document was witnessed by the National Chairman of the body, General Abdusalam Abubakar, who was represented by General Martin Luther Agwai ; Convener of the NPC Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah; the Inspector General of Police, Tunji Disu and INEC Chairman, Prof Ojo Amupitan among others.
Addressing the gathering shortly after appending his signature to the document, Governor Oyebanji noted that his party had just concluded its local government campaign tour across the state without any record of violence, a development he said reflected the commitment of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to peace, as well as his administration’s resolve to ensure harmony in the State.
The Governor said the fact no case of violence have been recorded in the electioneering barely one week to the election has further reinforced his confidence that the forthcoming election would be conducted in a peaceful atmosphere.
While noting that the prevailing calmness across the state was unprecedented in Ekiti’s electoral history, the Governor said it was perhaps the first time a governorship election is approaching with such a high level of peace and political maturity.
Reaffirming his administration’s commitment to preserving peace across the state, the Governor charged political parties and their candidates to honour the peace agreement in both words and actions by ensuring strict compliance with its provisions, urging them to place the interest of the state above partisan consideration and work collectively to sustain the peaceful atmosphere already being witnessed across the state.
The Governor said “Our party just concluded a tour of local government in the state and it was violent free. Ekiti State will be 30 years in October this year, this is the first time in the history of the state that an election will be few days away and we will have this kind of peace.
“So, I stand to make a commitment that after signing this accord and like the INEC Chairman said that is not the singing that is important but the character of those holding the pen and I believe strongly and I can attest to fellow contestants that we will do everything to ensure that we have peace.
“I stand to make a bold declaration on behalf of the government that I am leading and other contestants that the election will be peaceful because it is only in the atmosphere of peace that we can serve our people”.
Earlier in his remarks, the INEC Chairman, Prof Joash Ojo Amupitan, reminded the participating political parties and their candidates that the peace accord signing was not merely a bureaucratic formality but a moral treaty entered before Nigerian people and the international community. He noted that they are expected to demonstrate sincerity by translating their signature into actions that promote peace, tolerance and respect for electoral process before, during and after the election.
The INEC Chairman further urged political actors to avoid any conduct capable of undermining the credibility of the election, adding trhat the Commission remains fully committed to conducting a fress, fair and transparent governorship poll in Ekiti State
Also in his remarks, the Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Rilwa Disu assured that the Nigerian Police has made comprehensive security arrangement to guarantee the safety of voter, electoral officials and other stakeholders before, during and after the governorship election
He explained that operational deployments, intelligent gathering and strategic positioning of personnel have been intensified across the state to prevent any breakdown of law and order, warning that the force would not hesitate to deal decisively with any attempt to disrupt the electoral process
The Police Chief therefore urged resident of Ekiti State to come out en mass on the day of election to exercise their civic responsibility, assuring them that adequate security has been put in place to ensure peaceful, safe and credible electoral environment throughout the process.
