Participating political parties in Ondo State governorship election have signed a peace pact to ensure that peace reigns before, during and after the polls.
The peace pact signing, which took place on Thursday at the Police Officers’ Mess in Akure, the state capital, was attended by some governorship aspirants as well as party officials and supporters.
The State Commissioner of Police, Hilda Ibifuro-Harrison, urged the political stakeholders to adhere to the rules and regulations of the election.
He also asked them to conduct themselves in a peaceful manner before, during and after the polls.
The candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Olu Agunloye and the Vice Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ondo State, Fatai Adams, pledged to play by the rules of the game.
Fifteen out of the 28 political parties that would partake in the November election were present at the signing of the peace pact.
Dangerous For Democracy
The peace pact signing follows the demand by two PDP factions that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must recognise their candidates.
Factions of the embattled National Chairman of the PDP, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and that of the party’s Caretaker Committee Chairman, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, on Wednesday insisted that their candidates must be recognised, although the electoral law recognises one candidate per political party.
In its reaction, INEC described the situation as very unfortunate and dangerous for democracy.
The demand comes barely 24 hours to when the electoral umpire said it would publish the names of candidates vying for the governorship seat.