Political parties sign peace accord in Niger
No fewer than 10 political parties in Niger state have signed a peace agreement, committing themselves to a free, fair, peaceful, transparent and credible elections in the state.
The Voice Media Trust (VMT NEWS) reports that the Commissioner of Police, Mr Ogundele Ayodeji in the state, oversaw the signing of the peace pact at the command headquarters in Minna on Thursday.
VMT NEWS also reported that 10 political parties that were present during the signing of the peace accord include the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Action Democratic Congress (ADC), Labour Party (LP), Social Democratic Party (SDP) Action Alliance (AA), Action Democratic Party (ADP) and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
The commissioner of police said that the efforts was to collaborate and synergise with stakeholders to achieve a peaceful electioneering process.
Ayodeji explained that the aim of the exercise was to remind all political stakeholders that their utterances, activities and movements must be in compliance to the law.
According to him, the peace pact is designed to facilitate peaceful conduct of the forthcoming general elections devoid of thuggery, hate speeches fake news and violence.
Ayodeji charged political parties to adhere to 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act and their respective party constitutions before, during and after the general elections.
He urged political parties to abide by the peace accord and advised contestants and their supporters to refrain from provocative utterances as well as spreading of fake news and misinformation through social media to avoid breakdown of law and order.
The commissioner of police called on the public to abreast themselves with the electoral act and public order act to ensure issue-based campaigns and called on religious and community leaders to advise their subjects against violence.
In his remarks, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Niger, Alhaji Ahmed Garki, lauded political parties for peaceful campaign so far.
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He commended security agencies for ensuring that INEC facilities in the state were safe and promised the commission would ensure a free level-playing ground for all candidates.
In their separate remarks, Mr Salman Abdulkadir, the Controller of Correctional Service and Mr Kumar Tsukwam, Sector Commander of Federal Road Safety Crops (FRSC), said that anyone caught breakdowing law and order would remanded in prison custody, promising free movement of election materials.
The Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Niger, Mr Haruna Kwetishe, warned against the use of drugs during campaigns and other gathering as anyone caught engaging in drug abuse would be apprehended.
The state Chairman of Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Mr Isah Maikujeri, appreciated the police for ensuring political parties signed a peace accord and advised them to take outcome of the elections and support whoever emerged winners.
