By Abdullahi Tukur
Eleven political parties out of the eighteen registered parties were present at the peace accord signing in Kebbi state organised by the Independent National Electoral Commission incollaboration with the state Command of the Nigeria Police.
Speaking on the occasion, the state Residence Electoral Commissioner, Alhaji Ahmed Mahmud Bello, said the aimed of the forum was that political parties to bind themselves to a written deed so that at the end will be held responsible for violating what they agreed upon.
Alhaji Mahmud Bello, draw the the attention of all political parties that, the signing of peace accord is to ensure peaceful, free and fair electioneering before and after elections.
He urged politicians to maintain peace above self interest and to accept the outcome of the election as an act of patriotism and peacefull coexistence.
The Kebbi State Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Magaji Kontagora, stated that, the Nigeria Police would maintained and oart of neutrality in accordance with the electoral act.
CP Magaji Kontagora, assured that, the Police would always be more careful during electoral security deployment, exibit a high degree of professionalism and fairness in dealing with political parties.
He therefore urged all security agencies to adopt professional orientation that compasses democratic values, respect for human rights and diginity as well as mindfull on the duty imposed on them by the law to protect all electorates against illegal act and to also displace their duty without discrimination.
Accoding to him, the signing of the peace accord is one of the imparatives and ougth to have been the first phase in the electoral cycle.
Kontagora however warned officers on duty during the electioneering process as severe discipline measures awaits any erring officer before and after the election.
The State Governor, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, represented by the state Commissioner for works, Abubakar Cika Ladan, lauded the effort of INEC and Police Command for organising such meeting of political parties that will ensure a peaceful coexistence among the people of the state.
He commended the Police for showing to be neutral during elections and hoped they would practicalised their neutrality.
Those that spoke to Radio Nigeria, Gubatorial Candidate of the People’s Redemption Party PRP, Alhaji Udu Idris, said the signing of the peace accord was a welcome development to ensure peaceful election comes Febuary and Marc
