From Bamigbola Gbolagunte, Akure
Governorship candidates of the major political parties participating in the November 16 governorship election in Ondo State on Friday signed a peace accord, committing themselves and their political parties to a peaceful poll.
The candidates who signed the peace accord include the two major contenders for the election; Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Mr Agboola Ajayi of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
The state chairmen of the political parties participating in the governorship election also signed the peace accord and committed the members of their various political parties to a peaceful election.
Chairman of the National Peace Committee, former Head of State, General Abdulsalam Abubakar said the essence of the exercise was to support a peaceful and credible electoral process and promote the ideals of peace and democracy. General Abubakar urged the party leaders and candidates to accept the outcome of the election as long as it is adjudged to be free, fair and credible and to seek legitimate and peaceful means of addressing any concern that may arise thereafter. He also called on all stakeholders to work assiduously in their capacities to ensure that peace reigns supreme during the election.
While commending the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the work done so far, he called on the electoral commission to continuously live up to its responsibilities in ensuring that eligible voters exercise their franchise peacefully and that the remaining electoral processes are credible free, and fair.
He encouraged the people of Ondo State to exercise their civic duty by coming out en masse to vote for the candidates of their choice and desist from selling their votes, as it contradicts the very essence of democracy.