By: Maria Ifafesobi
Akure
The Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) has said the eligible seventeen candidates contesting in the forthcoming election in Ondo are expected to sign a peace accord on Tuesday next week.
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, made this known during a press brief at the commission’s headquartMahmood Yakubuers in Akure the state capital.
Professor Yakubu said the need to sign the peace accord was necessary to curtail the incessant clash between the parties’ supporters in ensuring the election is free, fair, and credible.
He said, “We are aware of the violence involving supporters of political parties. We will meet with the traditional rulers over the issue of violence. I am also glad that the National Peace Committee under the leadership of our former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.), is going to intervene by organizing the signing of the peace accord, similar to what we did in Benin.
“That is why we have a representative of the NPC committee to do the preparatory work. The signing of the peace accord will take place on Tuesday, October 6, 2020, here in Akure”.
He also said there is a need for the National Assembly to establish Electoral Offences Commission and Tribunal in the country.
Prof Yakubu charged newsmen to expose vote buyers who may want to compromise the integrity of the exercise. He assured that “expose vote buyers during the election as there are people who want to compromise the integrity of the process. INEC will remain neutral.”
He added that the commission has recovered from the recent fire incident at the Akure headquarters which destroyed over 5,000 smart card readers. Adding that sensitive materials for the election would arrive on October 5.
“We have accomplished 12 of the 14 activities. This is exactly two weeks and two days to the election. Within the days remaining, there is exactly 16 days to the election. If we exclude the election day on Saturday, October 10, we have 15 days. So we have two weeks, and a day to the election. The sensitive materials for the election are ready.
“The Central Bank of Nigeria will deliver them to the (Akure) branch. On Monday, October 5, the sensitive materials for the election will arrive. We lost all our smart card readers to the unfortunate fire incident.
“But let me say that we have fully recovered from that incident. We have enough smart card readers from the neighboring State of Oyo State. We are configuring and charging the card readers here in Akure.” He said.
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