Political parties and their governorship candidates participating in Saturday’s Anambra State election have signed a Peace Accord pledging to ensure a violence-free and credible poll.
The ceremony, held in Awka, was organized by the National Peace Committee (NPC) and attended by key stakeholders, security chiefs, and representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Speaking at the event, Chairman of the National Peace Committee, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (Rtd.), represented by General Martin Luther Agwai, noted that democracy thrives only when human life is valued. He emphasized that signing the Peace Accord would reflect the candidates’ discipline, commitment, and responsibility toward the peaceful conduct of the election.
In his message, INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, described the Anambra governorship election as his first major assignment, reaffirming the commission’s commitment to a free, fair, and credible election.
He urged candidates and their supporters to respect the rules and uphold the principles of the Peace Accord. Professor Amupitan disclosed that INEC had fine-tuned its logistics and deployment strategy, as well as assured voters of significant improvement on the election day.
According to him, INEC would deploy 24,000 personnel across 5,718 polling units, 326 ward collation centers, and 21 local government areas, with a final voter register of 2,802,790 votersand 16 political parties participating in the polls.
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, represented by the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) in charge of Intelligence, Benjamin Okolo, announced that the police had developed an integrated operational plan to secure the entire election process.
He assured that the peace and security of Anambra State were non-negotiable, noting that sister agencies including the NSCDC, FRSC, and NDLEA would safeguard critical infrastructure and major access roads.
The IGP also revealed that all security personnel assigned to VIPs and political appointees would be withdrawn on election day to maintain neutrality.
In a peace message, Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Comrade Uchenna Ugwuorji, appealed to political parties and their candidates to remain lawful before, during, and after the election.
He urged security agencies to act professionally and not allow themselves to be used for intimidation. He also encouraged candidates dissatisfied with the results to seek redress in court rather than resort to violence.
Convener of the National Peace Committee and Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah called on all political actors to honor their commitments and ensure a credible, peaceful, and transparent election on Saturday.
The Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, expressed gratitude to the Peace Committee for its initiative. He urged candidates to internalize the peace accord as a sacred oath, while calling on INEC to uphold the will of the people in the November 8 governorship election.
