2023: 12 parties sign peace accord in Ogun

Twelve political parties in Ogun State have signed a peace accord with the Independent National Electoral Commission ahead of the February 25 and March 11, 2023 elections.

Speaking at the signing ceremony on Tuesday at a stakeholders’ forum in Abeokuta, the state capital, the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Niyi Ijalaye, appealed to all the political parties in the state to educate their followers on the need to shun electoral violence in the coming polls.

Ijalaye said INEC had put necessary measures in place, including training of security personnel to make sure that the coming elections were hitch-free.

He noted that the commission had equally sensitised community leaders to assist INEC officials in getting voters involved in checking their exact polling units.

He said, “Security personnel have been trained to keep peace during the elections. The commission had sent a soft copy of the voter register to all the cleared political parties in the state.

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“We appeal to all political parties to educate their followers on the need to allow peace to reign and know that election is not a do-or-die affair.

“We seek the indulgence of the people of Ogun State to please cooperate with us on the days of election. Vote peacefully, promote peaceful elections and ensure that peace prevails even after results are announced.

Representatives of the parties which signed the peace accord were: Accord, Action Alliance, African Alliance Congress, African Democratic Congress, Action Democratic Party and All Progressives Congress .

Others include Allied People’s Movement, People’s Democratic Party, People’s Redemption Party, Social Democratic Party, National Rescue Movement and All Peoples Party .

Apart from political parties, others in attendance at the stakeholders forum were civil society organisations, security agencies, traditional rulers, human rights bodies and representatives of political parties.