Ahead of the November 16 Ondo State governorship election, former military Head of State and Chairman of the National Peace Committee (NPC), General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd), has made a strong appeal to politicians to end the practice of vote buying. Speaking at the Peace Accord signing ceremony in Akure on Friday, Abdulsalami stressed the importance of upholding democratic integrity.
At the event, all 17 candidates running for governor signed the Peace Accord, pledging to foster a peaceful election atmosphere. Abdulsalami urged candidates to respect the election results as long as the process is deemed fair, free, and credible. For those dissatisfied with the outcome, he encouraged seeking legal recourse over resorting to violence.
“I call on all politicians to commit fully to the Peace Accord, avoiding violence and intimidation. Remember, true leadership is about sportsmanship and integrity,” Abdulsalami remarked. He emphasized that Nigerian citizens have the right to elect leaders without inducements or coercion, and that politicians must abandon vote trading.
General Abdulsalami commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its efforts to prepare for a transparent election. He also praised the Nigeria Police Force and the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) for their dedication to maintaining peace in Ondo State. “I urge security agencies to stay vigilant against any threats and ensure a peaceful election environment as we approach election day,” he added.
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INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu reinforced the importance of the Peace Accord, noting that seven accords have been signed in recent off-cycle elections since 2020. He encouraged candidates and political parties to go beyond signing the Peace Accord, calling for genuine commitment to peaceful elections.
“Signing the Peace Accord alone won’t guarantee a peaceful election. True peace comes from your dedication to its principles and ensuring your supporters uphold these values,” said Yakubu.
Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, represented by DIG Sylvester Alabi, announced a robust security plan for the election. He confirmed that the police would deploy personnel to all 3,933 polling units and 203 wards, ensuring protection for voters, electoral officials, and materials. “We will assign five personnel to each polling unit to safeguard INEC materials, officials, and voters during and after the election,” he assured.
Representing the candidates, Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC) pledged to honor the Peace Accord and uphold the spirit of democracy. Aiyedatiwa highlighted Ondo State’s peaceful record during the campaign and urged other candidates to continue this legacy. “Elections will come and go, but our state will remain. Let’s commit to peace during and after the election,” he said.
