By Folorunso Alagbede, Abuja
Ahead of the Saturday’s Councils’ election in the in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, the leadership and candidates of the fourteen political parties contesting the election have committed themselves to a peace accord.
The peace accord was signed by the leaders and candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA and eleven other parties contesting the election in the six Area Councils in the FCT.
The ceremony took place yesterday during the meeting between the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and other relevant stakeholders in Abuja.
The parties and their candidates, while signing the peace accord, pledged to ensure that the election is held in peacefull atmosphere, with a view to making it credible and hitch-free.
Speaking earlier at the meeting, the Chairman of INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu said, “Therefore, at today’s (yesterday’s) meeting, parties and candidates will be required to resolve, pledge, affirm and commit to peaceful conduct before, during and after the election.”
Continuing, Yakubu said, “The Commission is also deploying six Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) to support the REC for the FCT and three National Commissioners to supervise the conduct of the election.
“Our eyes are on all our officials, be they ad hoc or regular staff, to ensure that they strictly abide by the rules.
“All parties, candidates and their supporters should do the same. No one will benefit from the disruption of the process or other acts of bad behaviour.
“Let the voters in the FCT choose their leaders in a free, fair and peaceful contest”, he said
The INEC Chairman reiterated that voter inducement in all forms, including vote-buying at polling units, is a violation of the law.
“The ban on the use of mobile phones and other photographic devices in the voting cubicles is still in force.”, he said.
He reassured the stakeholders of the Commission’s commitment to free, fair and credible process, adding, “however, we need a similar commitment of especially the political parties and candidates to realize these goals”, he said.
No fewer than 473 candidates, comprising 110 (chairman and vice chairman) and 363 flag bearers sponsored by 14 political parties are contesting for the six chairmanship and 62 councillors positions in the FCT.
