CHAIRMAN, National Peace Committee, General Abdusalami Abubakar (retd), on Wednesday in Kogi State, expressed doubt on the seriousness and commitment on the part of candidates contesting the November 11 governorship elections in Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa states News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) report.
Speaking at the signing of peace accord among 18 political parties featuring in the Kogi State governorship election on Saturday, Abdusalami appealed to the conscience of the candidates.
Some of the political parties that participated in the peace accord were the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Labour Party (LP) and the Action Alliance (AA).
Others included the New Nigerian People Party (NNPP), Action Democratic Congress (ADC), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), National Rescue Movement and the Action Democratic Party (ADP), among others.
Abdulsalami, represented by Cardinal John Onaiyekan, urged the parties to abide by the accord during the election.
He said he was beginning to have serious doubt on the seriousness and commitment on the part of candidates involved in the peace accord.
“This is because it has become a ritual of signing with no fruitful results or meeting up the expectations of the Nigeria citizens. The players should know that we can’t be deceived over and over again.
“I’m optimistic that if we do things in right way, the nation will prosper. And this is my hope and prayers.
“If the major players of this accord will play the game according to the rules of the game, we shall be better off as a nation.
“Therefore, we expect them to keep this accord and ensure that the election of Saturday, November 11 will be free, fair and peaceful,” he said.
He said INEC, as the empire, had prepared well for the election in the three states and should be supported to succeed in the task bestowed upon it.
“Those contesting the election have the singular agenda to serve the people, so they shouldn’t force themselves on them, but allow them to make their choice unhindered,” he said.
The Cardinal decried a situation whereby courts are the ones determining who to lead the people in election.
“We want politicians to redeem their image this time round by allowing the people to freely choose their leader.
“We hope this time round, without any breach of trust, the electorate will be allowed to exercise their rights to cast their votes for who they want to lead them.
“It’s unfortunate and a great pity that in Nigeria today, election has been a do-or-die affair.
“If all players play according to the rules, there will be no point going to court. Recoursing to court means that the process is deficient and floppy,” he said.
INEC chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who spoke through the National Commissioner supervising Kogi, Kwara and Niger, Professor Sani Adam, said the electoral body is prepared for the off-circle governorship elections in Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa states.
Yakubu said the commission had high hope that things will change for the better among politicians for free, fair, credible and peaceful election.
“We have done everything possible in area of non-sensitive and sensitive material, with our ad hoc staff well prepared for Saturday’s elections.
“INEC expects the peace committee to make it sacrosanct for candidates in the election to be committed to this accord for free, fair and peaceful polls.
“We don’t want the courts to be the determinants for our elections in this country.
“As a giant of Africa, Nigeria must set the pace for others to follow in the area of electing our leaders.
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, represented by DIG A.H. Sani, called on the electorate not to exercise fear in performing their civic duties, but should come out en masse considering the security personnel put in place to protect them.
“The police and other security agencies will not be partial but be resolute and fair to all and we need the cooperation and support of citizens to succeed in the assignment,” he said.
Also speaking, the Attah of Igala, Dr Matthew Opaluwa, represented by the Onayekun of Mosun, Khalid Ali-Bukar, said as custodians of the people at the grassroots, traditional rulers would canvass for peaceful conduct on the day of the poll.
He advised politicians to allow peace to reign and not go the polling units to foment any trouble.
Governor Yahaya Bello, on his part, commended the Abdulsalami-led National Peace Committee for its commitment to peaceful elections.
Bello, represented by Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Mahmud Ozigi, said necessary security arrangements had been made for a peaceful, credible and successful election on Saturday.
Speaking shortly after the peace accord, the APC governorship candidate in Kogi State, Alhaji Usman Ododo, expressed happiness over the peace pact.
Ododo, who expressed confidence over his chances of winning the poll, called on residents of the state to conduct themselves peacefully for the success of the poll.
In Imo State, Governor Hope Uzodimma and the governorship candidate of APC and his Labour Party (LP) counterpart, Senator Athan Achonu, were among candidates absent at the National Peace Committee meeting.
Candidates present at the meeting were those of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Samuel Anyanwu; Action Alliance (AA), Lincoln Ogunewe and Action Democratic Congress (ADC), Professor James Okoroma.
The committee has, however, threatened to name the political parties and candidates that refused to sign its peace accord on Friday.
Chairman of the committee, General Abubakar, represented by General Martin Luther Agwai (retd), disclosed this during the signing of the accord in Imo State on Wednesday.
Agwai, while answering questions from newsmen on why most of the candidates did not show up, said: “Everybody knows that there cannot be development without peace; one challenge that we have here is that all of them did not come, but the good people of Imo State are watching.
“At the end of it, on Friday, we will announce to the good people of Imo State the political parties of those who refused to sign and we will let the people know which party wants peace and the party that does not want peace.”
Also, INEC has disclosed that a total of 137,973 polling and collation agents had already been registered to participate in the off-season governorship poll in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states.
According to a list of polling and collation agents released by the umpire, at the close of the deadline for uploading the list of agents to the INEC dedicated portal by political parties, 34,704 agents were uploaded for Bayelsa State, 65,274 for Imo State and 37,995 for Kogi, making a total of 137,973 agents.
This was contained in a statement signed by INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo does not support any candidate
—Iwuanyanwu
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo has declared its neutrality in the governorship election in Imo State.
National president of the organisation, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, who disclosed this to newsmen in Owerri, said it is not backing any candidate for the election.
He insisted that Ohanaeze believed in democracy and had no plan to support any candidate.
Meanwhile, the General-Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ahmed Abubakar Audi, has directed the deployment of 22,600 officers and men of the corps in Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi states, in order to ensure hitch-free and credible governorship polls.
NSCDC Public Relations Officer (PRO), Babawale Afolabi, in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja, hinted that Audi charged the personnel to maintain high ethical standards, discipline, professional conduct and remain apolitical.
The NSCDC said: “You must remain neutral on the field to ensure the security of the electorate, other stakeholders and election officials and no act of sabotage should be tolerated.”
He called on residents of the three states to cooperate with the NSCDC and sister agencies while urging them to shun any act capable of thwarting the plans on ground for the peaceful conduct of the exercise.
In another development, the Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Dauda Ali Biu, has tasked operatives of the agency drafted to cover election in the three states to ensure effective collaboration with the Nigerian Police Force, INEC and other security agencies in the enforcement of restrictions on vehicular movement.
In a statement signed by the FRSC Public Education Officer, Mr Bisi Kazeem, Biu averred: “To ensure that the corps plays effective role in the elections, we have directed the deployment of 4,500 personnel and 35 vehicles, including tow trucks, ambulances to each of the respective states to strengthen enforcement of restrictions during the entire process of the election.”
In a related development, the General Officer Commanding 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major-General Hassan Dada, has flagged off ‘Operation Safe Conduct’ in Imo State ahead of the election.
The GOC, who performed the exercise in a brief ceremony at the 34 Artillery Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Obinze, Owerri, on Wednesday, described the operation as “a measure by the Nigerian military to ensure security of all stakeholders in the electioneering process.”
He said that a show of force would be carried out by officers in the three senatorial districts of the state ahead of the election.
According to him the essence of the exercise is to restore the confidence of the electorate and to assure them of adequate security ahead of the election.
In Bayelsa State, a total of 37,000 security personnel have been deployed by the police for the election.
The state police command confirmed the figure on Wednesday in Yenagoa, the state capital, adding that the team comprised men of the Nigerian Army, NSCDC and the Navy.
The command said personnel were deployed in the upland and riverine communities of the state, just as the INEC has commenced distribution of sensitive materials to the eight constitutionally-recognised local government areas in the state.
Newsmen sighted police trucks stationed at the INEC office as officials of the commission were busy earlier in the day sorting out the materials.
. TheWitness
