Seventeen out of the 18 political parties contesting the September 21 Edo governorship election have signed a peace accord in preparation for the election. However, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), represented by Chairman Anthony Aziegbemi and its candidate Asue Ighodalo, declined to sign the accord.
Aziegbemi explained to newsmen that their refusal was due to the detention of 10 PDP members by the police in Abuja. “We are here to register our protest before the peace committee and to say that the PDP will not sign a peace accord when 10 of our members have been arrested and detained by the Police in Abuja,” he stated.
During a stakeholders meeting, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun noted that he was unaware of the PDP members’ arrest but acknowledged that individuals involved in political violence had been detained.
The peace accord signing occurred just nine days before the governorship election in the state. Bishop Matthew Kukah, Convener of the National Peace Committee, emphasized the importance of peace for a credible election, urging candidates to uphold this foundation.
Chairman of the National Peace Committee, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (Rtd), reaffirmed the commitment to peace, unity, and democratic values. He appealed to candidates and their supporters to maintain peace and accept the election’s outcome.
INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu assured that INEC would continue to fulfill its role according to electoral laws, while Inspector-General Egbetokun committed to impartiality and professionalism in policing the election. Governor Godwin Obaseki, represented by Secretary to the State Government Joseph Eboigbe, expressed concern over the ongoing detention of PDP members.