With the Edo State governorship election set for September 21, Ezenwa Nwagwu, Executive Director of the Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA), is calling on voters to reject fear-mongering tactics employed by politicians.
Nwagwu’s appeal comes in the wake of concerns over the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) refusal to sign a peace accord. He criticized the controversy as a “partisan tactic” aimed at creating fear and distracting voters from key electoral issues.
He clarified that the peace accord is a non-binding, moral document intended to promote peaceful conduct among political parties, but it does not substitute for legal frameworks. “The peace accord is not legally binding but a persuasive initiative,” Nwagwu said. “Its absence does not equate to lawlessness or violence.”
Emphasizing that Nigeria’s electoral process is governed by the Constitution and the Electoral Act, Nwagwu stressed that the responsibility for ensuring a peaceful election lies with the police and security agencies. He urged them to deploy adequate personnel and resources to prevent violence, asserting that any failure in maintaining order would be due to a lack of commitment to their lawful duties, not the absence of a peace accord.
Nwagwu also called on the police, civil society, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reassure the public of a peaceful election process, despite political noise. He urged citizens to maintain confidence in the electoral system and resist intimidation, emphasizing the importance of voter participation.
“Citizens must remain confident in the electoral system and refuse to be intimidated by political narratives designed to suppress voter turnout,” Nwagwu concluded.