Anambra Election: Ozigbo, Soludo, Others Sign Peace Accord [Photos]

Ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in Anambra State, candidates contesting in the exercise have signed a peace accord committed to a peaceful democratic process.

Ezenwoko’s Blog reports that the peace accord was organised by the National Peace Committee (NPC) chaired by former military Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar.

The ceremony which took place on Thursday in Awka, the state capital, saw the candidates sign the peace agreement for a free, fair and credible election on Saturday.

Also present at the event include the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Rev, Fr, Mathew Kukah, party chairmen, and the state Police Commissioner.

By signing the peace agreement, the candidates are expected to take proactive steps “towards ensuring a conducive environment for the conduct of a credible electoral process.”

Also, they are expected to “fully abide by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to respect the rules and regulations as laid down in the Legal Framework for Elections in Nigeria, and to adhere to best international standards.”

Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) signing the peace agreement

The candidates are trusted to “respect that the results can only be announced by INEC, and to accept the outcome of the vote, as long as it is adjudged to be free, fair and credible, devoid of intimidation and conducted in accordance with the provisions of the law.”

Some of the candidates that signed by the peace accord include Valentine Ozigbo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA); Andy Uba of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ifeanyi Ubah of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) and Okonkwo Francis of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

Others are Godwin Maduka of the Accord Party (AP), Etiaba Chukwuogo of the Action Alliance (AA), Nwankwo Chidozie of the African Action Congress (AAC), Onyejegbu Okwudili of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Ohajimkpo Emeka of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Ezenwafor Victor of the National Rescue Movement (NRM), Nnamdi Nwawuo of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP), and Uzo Godwin of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).