Candidates of 14 political parties contesting for various positions in the 2023 General Election in Nasarawa State have resolved to be of peaceful conduct before, during and after the exercise.
The candidates made the declaration during the signing of a peace accord for the 2023 General Election in Lafia the Nasarawa State capital.
The signing of peace accord organized by Inter – Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security in collaboration with the Independent National Electoral Commission brought together candidates of 14 out of the 18 registered political parties in the country to commit themselves to peaceful 2023 elections.
INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Nasarawa State in a remark, said sustenance of democracy in any society depends largely on the conduct of major political actors in the electoral process.
He called on candidates of the political parties in the elections to ensure strict adherence to the letters of the peace accord document and caution their supporters on the need to maintain peace during the elections.
Nasarawa State Chairman, Inter – Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security who is also the state Commissioner of Police Mr Maiyaki Baba said the signing of the peace accord was necessitated by recent developments that could impede peaceful conduct of the General Election if left unchecked.
” Intelligence report at our disposal reveals that some people suspected to be politicians are importing armed thugs into the state to disrupt the elections. This is unusual in Nasarawa State which is known to be peaceful. We are equal to the task as security forces have been deployed to carry constant raiding of hotels across the state where these hoodlums may be camped.”
Governor Abdullahi Sule who spoke on behalf of the candidates noted that they were committed to the maintenance of peace not only during the elections but all the times for development to thrive.
Also speaking, INEC National Commissioner in charge of Nasarawa, Plateau , Kaduna States and the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Muhammed Haruna pointed out that the commission had successfully implemented 12 out of the 14 items lined up for the 2023 General Election.
A delegation of the European Union, traditional rulers and heads of security agencies in the state were at the signing of the peace accord to observe the exercise.