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From Joe Effiong, Uyo
Governorship candidates in Akwa Ibom State have appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that polling materials arrive at polling units on time for the March 18 governorship and House of Assembly elections.
The candidates who made the appeal after signing a peace bond ahead of Saturday’s elections complained about the late arrival of materials during the presidential and National Assembly elections on February 25.
The peace bond, initiated by the Nigeria Police Force in partnership with other security agencies, was signed at the state police headquarters, Ikot Akpan Abia, Uyo.
The Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State Police Command, Mr Olatoye Durosinmi, while administering the peace accord documents, warned governorship candidates across political divides and their supporters to avoid thuggery and embrace peace during the March 18 elections.
The commissioner reminded the candidates of their common ancestry and the need to avoid acts that would jeopardize existing peace in the state.
He appealed to the candidates to talk to their supporters and followers to embrace peace and not to foment trouble, threatening that the security agencies were ready to deal decisively with defaulters.
Durosinmi gave the assurance that the police and other security agencies would ensure neutrality and work with all parties to ensure peace before, during and after the election.
“We are here to sign a peace accord. We are here to talk to each other and interact. We are to talk and see if there were lapses in the last election so that we can correct them, something we did not do well on the path of politicians.
“Anything we have not done well on the path of security agencies, we are all here to listen to you. All that we are aiming at is a peaceful election on March 18, 2023, and a better election that we all will be proud of.
“So, the gubernatorial election is the one that concerns all of us and everyone is ready but we want to sound a note of warning that in Akwa Ibom state we want to have zero tolerance to thuggery.
“We are aware that some people are going to wear oversized uniforms on that day. We are aware that some people will wear uniforms with big bears that they forgot to cut their bears, so we know them.
“We are aware we may see some newly painted police or military vehicles, we are aware of it and we have remedies to it.
“The advice is that those who are planning to foment trouble should repent and not do that as we are ready to deal with them drastically,”
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr Cyril Omorogbe, represented by the administrative secretary, Mr Emmanuel Ogbodu, said that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would remain neutral as the umpire for the elections, and assured candidates that materials would arrive at polling units on time.
He however called on the candidates and politicians to spread the good news of peace to their supporters and followers and to be ready to accept the result of the election as only one candidate will win in the contest.
“We are here to seek peace and ensure that there will be peace before, during and after the elections. So, the call is upon the candidates and their supporters that they embrace peace before, during and after the elections.
We are here to urge all participants, that is the candidates, to spread this to their supporters that there should be peace no matter the outcome, favourable or unfavourable because, in every contest, the position contested for will be taken by only one person.
“Two people cannot be elected into one office. So, we should have this in mind, and cultivate this culture of accepting the result the way it comes.
“On our path, we have dedicated ourselves to do our best in this state as we have done before. So, we will continue to do better.
“We will ensure that this time around, we will be very early with our materials and personnel. So, when we arrive early everything goes smoothly. We believe candidates and their supporters will accept the result in good faith and ensure that there is peace for everyone,” Omorogbe said.
