Seven political parties have signed a peace accord for the forthcoming Enugu State local government council polls scheduled for September 26.
The political parties that signed the peace accord are the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Because Of Our Tomorrow (BOOT) and National Rescue Movement (NRM).
Others include the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Action Peoples Party (APP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking at the signing of the peace accord, Executive Chairman of the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC), Prof. Christian Ngwu, said that the signing is imperative to ensure political parties, candidates and supporters maintain decorum before, during and after the polls.
Represented by the Commissioner One in ENSIEC, Solomon Udeh, the chairman said that with the signing of the peace accord, political parties, candidates and their supports have committed to peaceful, non-violent, free and inclusive participation at the polls.
Ngwu noted they must respect other candidates and their parties, security agencies and electoral process as well as the declared results after the polls.
“Political parties, their candidates and supporters must ensure peaceful resolution of internal party matters and ensure peaceful campaigns; while party officials, agents and supporters must abide by all rules that promote transparency and credibility of the polls,” he said.
The chairman said that the commission would conduct a free, fair and credible polls, adding all political parties and their candidates would be provided a level playing field.
“We are already concluding all arrangements for the polls and the commission have put in place all necessary requirements for a hitch-free polls come Saturday, Sept. 26,” he said.
Responding, the Enugu State APC Chairman, Martin Chukwunweike, said that the APC has always and would subscribe to all guidelines that would promote peaceful conduct of the polls.
Chukwunweike noted that the party’s campaigns and activities have been very peaceful, noting that the campaigns have been on issues that uplift the people’s living standards and monumental achievements of the APC-led administration in transforming the state.
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“As a party, APC is noted for peace and respect for rules and regulations guiding political conducts and our candidates and supporters will maintain our ever peaceful disposition in the council polls,” he said.
Speaking, the Enugu State Chairman of APGA, Mr. Uche Ojielo, called on ENSIEC to ensure all political parties are carried alone and duly notified on issues relating to them in the polls.
Ojielo assured that his party would abide with the signed accord agreement and ensure that it activities before, during and after the polls remains civil.
