Former military Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd), has called on politicians to put an end to the practice of vote buying, emphasizing the importance of free and fair elections. His remarks came during the signing of a Peace Accord for the upcoming governorship election in Ondo State, which took place in Akure, the state capital, on November 8, 2024.
As Chairman of the National Peace Committee (NPC), Abdulsalami urged the candidates from the 17 political parties participating in the election to accept the results as long as they are deemed credible and fair. He encouraged any candidates who might be dissatisfied with the outcomes to pursue peaceful and legitimate channels for addressing their grievances.
During the ceremony, Abdulsalami stressed that it is the responsibility of Nigerian citizens to elect their leaders without succumbing to inducements. He also praised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its efforts and urged it to ensure that eligible voters can exercise their rights peacefully.
He commended the Nigeria Police Force and the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) for their role in maintaining peace ahead of the election, urging them to remain vigilant against any potential threats of violence.
Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, INEC’s National Chairman, highlighted the significance of the peace accord, stating that while signing it is a positive step, the real challenge lies in the commitment to uphold its terms. He called on various stakeholders, including religious and traditional leaders, to collaborate with INEC for a peaceful electoral process.
The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, represented by Deputy Inspector General Sylvester Alabi, assured that adequate security personnel would be deployed to all polling units to protect electoral officers and materials.
Speaking on behalf of the governorship candidates, Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC) pledged to adhere to the peace accord and called on all participants to respect the democratic process. Aiyedatiwa emphasized the importance of maintaining peace during and after the elections, reinforcing that elections are temporary, but the state and its people remain.
