Follow Us on Google
Timothy Olanrewaju, Maiduguri
Twenty political parties shunned a peace accord to ensure free conduct of Saturday elections amid fears of violence in Borno State, yesterday.
But, 42 political parties turned up for the signing ceremony, yesterday. The peace accord, organised by Police Command headquarters in the state, was attended by chairmen, secretaries and candidates of about 65 political parties.
Candidates of the three major political parties, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the All Progressive Congress (APC) and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) were absent from the peace accord.
Governorship Candidates Forum Committee members declined to sign the peace accord, citing alleged presence of political thugs, among others.
“This forum, hereby, declines to sign any document until the issue of thuggery and threat to lives of our people day and night is addressed,” Babagana Musa, governorship candidate of Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) said on their behalf.
Regardless, Commissioner of Police, Damian Chukwu, sid the police expected the parties to abide by the content of the peace accord.
He said all political parties and their leaders are expected to speak to their members and supporters to eschew violence or acts that could jeopardise peaceful conduct of the poll and added that the police will arrest and prosecute anybody who breaches the peace; during and after elections.
Chukwu disclosed that the police have received some petitions but regretted that the petitioners did not make themselves available for investigations by the police.
Meanwhile, Borno Governor, Kashim Shettima, on Thursday, has condoled with families of the Boko Haram attack on Tuesday evening.
Boko Haram attacked Shettima’s campaign convoy while traveling along the Maiduguri–Gamboru Road.
Four civilians and two soldiers died in the bloody attack after some suspected Boko Haram members, dressed as soldiers, infiltrated the convoy and opened fire on them.
In a statement by his spokesman, Isa Gusau, yesterday, the governor expressed his condolences to the families of those who lost their loved ones during the attack.
The governor said he would be visiting the bereaved families later on Thursday to empathise with them.
“Governor Shettima mourns, with the deepest thoughts and heartfelt condolences, the demise of some fellow citizens, brothers, associates and loyal supporters following an unfortunate ambush of some vehicles in his convoy by suspected insurgents on Tuesday evening,” said Gusau.
Civillian-JTF sources told newsmen two other bodies were recovered yesterday.
