Political parties and candidates contesting the November 8 Anambra State governorship election have signed a peace accord pledging to maintain peace before, during, and after the polls.
The ceremony, held on Monday at the International Convention Centre, Awka, was organised by the National Peace Committee (NPC), chaired by former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (Rtd), and supervised by Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto.
Represented by General Martin Luther Agwai, Abubakar said the accord represents a commitment to discipline, responsibility, and respect for human life values vital to sustaining democracy. He urged candidates to uphold their pledges and allow the will of the people to prevail.
Sixteen political parties, including the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), and African Democratic Congress (ADC), participated in the event.
Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, described the Anambra election as his first major assignment and assured that it would be “free, fair, transparent, and peaceful.”
He disclosed that a final voter register of 2,802,790 voters had been approved, with 24,000 personnel to be deployed across 5,718 polling units and 326 ward collation centres in 21 local government areas. He added that logistics had been improved to prevent delays and that the commission was collaborating with security agencies to curb vote-buying.
Representing the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, Deputy Inspector-General Benjamin Okolo said security agencies had developed a coordinated plan to protect voters and election materials. He also announced that police protection would be withdrawn from VIPs and political appointees on election day to prevent abuse of privilege, declaring that “the peace of Anambra State is non-negotiable.”
Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Uchenna Ugwuorji, appealed to candidates to respect democratic principles and seek redress in court if disputes arise, rather than resorting to violence.
Bishop Kukah commended stakeholders for their commitment, describing the accord as “a hand-holding exercise aimed at making democracy more functional and credible.” He urged candidates to demonstrate sportsmanship and avoid intimidation or vote-buying.
Speaking on behalf of the candidates, Governor Chukwuma Soludo of the APGA expressed appreciation to the NPC and INEC, pledging to abide by the rules. “This peace accord is not just a formality; it is a sacred commitment,” he said. “If each of us honours what we have signed, Anambra will once again set an example of democratic maturity for Nigeria.”
The signing of the peace accord marks a significant step toward fostering harmony and credibility ahead of the Anambra governorship election.
