2023: We are ready for the election-INEC Parties, candidates signed peace accord
By Daniel Agada, Jos
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has reiterated commitment and readiness of the commission towards the conduct of free,fair and credible elections in 25th February and 11th March, 2023 respectively.
The resident electoral commissioner (REC), Plateau State, Dr. Oliver Agundu gave the assurance during a one day round table discussion on the prevention/mitigating election violence in Nigeria’s 2023 general elections, held Tuesday in Jos the state capital.
A discuss is champion by the Gideon and Fummi Para-Mallam peace foundation in collaboration with Canada fund for Local Initiatives.
REC, Agundu, said the commission will ensured prompt deployment of election materials in right quantity, right place and the right time during elections.
According to him, ” the commission had already conducted a mock accreditation using a Bimodal voters Accreditation system (BVAS) which is 100% okay.
“We have about 5,000 BVAS which will be configured in each of the 4,949 units across the state.
” The process is going to be fair, transparent and credible as the commission will create a level playing ground for all contestants.”
He warmed political parties and their candidates against compromising the election to avoid Osun state scenario, noting that article 51 of the electoral Act is very sacrosanct.
The president and chief executive officer of Gideon and Fummi para-mallam peace foundation, Rev.Dr. Gideon Para-Mallam opines that, it is imperative that as influential members of the society who have been highly placed by God, they will unite and with one strong voice say, “No” to election violence.
He said, “This roundtable is not just a once-off but part of the process of addressing election violence and peace building in our society. Nigeria’s democracy needs to be sustained and to do that, proactive steps needs to be taken.”
Our correspondent observed that the participants of the roundtable discuss cut across the states of Plateau, Kaduna, Nasarawa and Benue respectively. Which Para-Mallam acknowledged, ” these states have suffered from different forms of violence and often, violence in one state spills to neighboring States leading to cross-border violence.
Meanwhile, the Labour party governorship candidate in Plateau Dr. Patrick Dakum alongside PRP candidate Luka Pampe, PDP candidate Barr. Caleb Mutfwang through his representative and other candidates within and outside Plateau signed peace accord, with assurance that they and their supporters will maintain peace before, during and after elections.
