Ahead of the Edo 2020 election on Saturday September 19, the two leading candidates have signed a peace agreement to assure peaceful conduct.
The two topmost parties and their respective candidates – Governor Godwin Obaseki of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) signed the agreement under the watch of Bishop Hassan Kukah of the The National Peace Committee (NPC), TheConscience reports.
The peace agreement which also included all the other contesting political parties was the signed commitment of the two gladiators in the Edo 2020 election as well as other candidates to work for peace and also accept the outcome of the results whichever way it swings.
Former Head of State, General Abdulsalmi Abubakar (rtd), who headed the NPC said that the peace pact means that the actors have embraced peace, adding that with the assurances from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of maintaining neutrality and the Inspector General of police Muhammed Adamu assuring of adequate security, Edo people should come out enmasse and vote on the Election Day even as he lauded the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II for his efforts at bringing the warring parties together when the tension was at its peak.
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“By agreeing to sign this covenant of peace all of you are committing yourselves to ensure an enduring peace in Nigeria and Edo State before, during and after the election and agreeing to look beyond short term political gains, sectoral interests or narrow party advantage and accepting nothing but for the development of Edo state,” said Abubakar.
On his part, the Police IG who was represented by Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Research and Planning, Adeleye Oyebade said police would work with sister security agencies to ensure a peaceful exercise.
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Both candidates promised to abide by the pact in separate reactions, reassuring stakeholders of a peaceful Edo 2020 election.
Edo State has been shadowed by a cloud of violence with threats, assassination attempt claims and campaign of calumny as Governor Obaseki battles Ize-Iyamu for a chance to return for another four year term to complete his projects as both candidates go head to head into the Edo gubernatorial election on Saturday in a reversal of what happened four years ago when Godwin Obaseki was the candidate of the APC while Ize-Iyamu was the candidate of the PDP.
