AS A MATTER OF PREELECTION NECESSITY, IN ORDER TO DEEPEN OUR DEMOCRATIC PROCESS, THE PEACE ACCORD WAS INTRODUCED INTO THE ELECTORAL SYSTEM. THE REASON FOR IT IS TO ENSURE THAT THE COMPETING PARTIES AND CANDIDATES FOR AN ELECTION SIGN AN ACCORD TO MAINTAIN PEACE IRRESPECTIVE OF THE
FAVOURABLE OR UNFAVORABLE OUTCOME OF THE ELECTION. THE PEACE ACCORD ENCOURAGES ANY AGGRIEVED PARTY AFTER AN ELECTION TO RESORT TO SEEKING REDRESS THROUGH CONSTITUTIONAL MEANS RATHER TAKING THE LAWS INTO THEIR OWN HANDS.
THIS HAS BEEN THE PRACTICE OVER THE YEARS, WHETHER THE ELECTION IS PRESIDENTIAL OR GUBERNATORIAL. THE COMMITTEE, HEADED BY FORMER MILITARY PRESIDENT GEN. ABDULSALAMI ABUBARKIR, ALWAYS LIVE UP TO ITS EXPECTATION TO ENSURE THE PEACE ACCORD IS SIGNED BY PARTIES BEFORE ANY ELECTION IS HELD ANYWHERE.
IT IS IN THE LIGHT OF THIS THAT THE GEN. ABDULSALAMI ABUBARKIR-LED COMMITTEE SCHEDULED THE NECESSARY SIGNING OF THE PEACE ACCORD IN BENIN CITY, IN VIEW OF THE EDO STATE GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION SLATED FOR SEPTEMBER 21, 2024. THIS IS TO ENSURE THAT, NO MATTER THE OUTCOME OF THE ELECTION, THE SIGNATORIES ARE TO CONDUCT THEMSELVES AS PEACEFUL AS POSSIBLE, RESORTING TO SEEKING REDRESS IN THE COURTS IF THEY HAVE ANY REASON TO BE AGGRIEVED OF DISSATISFIED.
IT HAS BEEN REPORTED THAT OBASEKI AND THE PDP REFUSED TO SIGN THE PEACE ACCORD. THIS IRRESPONSIBLE DECISION TELLS VOLUMES ABOUT THEIR DEVIOUS PLANS TO RESORT TO MAYHEM AND ANARCHY. THIS IS BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN ALLEGED THAT GOV. OBASEKI BOUGHT ARMS WORTH ABOUT 2 BILLION NAIRA, AND IMPORTED MERCENARIES FROM THE DIASPORA. WITHOUT MINCING WORDS, ALL THESE AMOUNT TO DECLARATION OF WAR, EVEN BEFORE THE ELECTION IS HELD, PREVIOUSLY SIGNALED BY THE AIRPORT ATTACK ON THE CONVOY OF THE DEPUTY GOVERNOR PHILIP SHUAIBU AND THE APC CANDIDATE, SEN. MONDAY OKPEBHOLO. FOR WEEKS NOW, IT HAS BEEN ONE ATTACK AFTER ANOTHER ACROSS THE STATE BY GOV. OBASEKI’S BLOODTHIRSTY MERCENARIES AND MERCHANTS OF VIOLENCE
AS EXPECTED, THE SECURITY OPERATIVES, PARTICULARLY THE POLICE, ARE DOING THEIR BEST TO ENSURE OPTIMAL SECURITY IN THE COMING ELECTION. HOWEVER, IT IS A WAKE-UP CALL FOR VIGILANCE BY THE APC AS A PARTY, TO LEAVE NO STONE UNTURNED IN ENSURING THAT GOV. OBASEKI AND PDP DEVIOUS PLANS BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER THE GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION ARE EFFECTIVELY CURTAILED, IF NOT NIPPED IN THE BUD.
