As reported by Voice of Nigeria, fourteen political parties in Kwara State have signed a peace accord ahead of the upcoming Local Government Elections. The peace agreement is intended to ensure the peaceful conduct of the elections before, during, and after the polls.

The peace pact was facilitated by the Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission (KWSIEC) as part of the preparations for the local government elections scheduled for September 21, 2024, across the state’s 16 local government areas.

At the peace accord signing held at the headquarters of the KWSIEC in Ilorin , leaders of various political parties in attendance took turns to put signatures on the form on behalf of their parties.

The KWSIEC Chairman, Mohammed Baba Okanla, who addressed participants at the peace accord meeting, urged members of the political class to play according to the rules of the game.

Okanla expressed satisfaction with the conduct and cooperation of parties ahead of the polls but enjoined them to employ lawful channels to ventilate their grievances during the elections.

He also implored party leaders to counsel their followers on the need to maintain peace and order.

The Chairman of the commission stated that there won’t be room for violence or breakdown of law and order if the rules were adhered to.

Okanla called on candidates in the elections to conduct their campaigns peacefully and commended the political parties for attending the meeting.

He appealed to the people of the state to maintain harmony because the state was harmonious.

“As we all know, election into position has to do with individual party effort and divine support. At KWSIEC, we deemed it fit to call us to continue to live in peace before, during and after the elections. We are highly impressed with the cooperation of parties so far. We exchange pleasantries with party leaders anytime we see outside our office. That showed that we are committed to peace.

“As election is about to commence, we have electoral law. All of us need to go by the rules of the game. If we feel that there are areas that you want to display your displeasure, there are procedures to do that. Don’t take law into your hands” he said.

According to him, there is no way that there wouldn’t be hitch, stressing that if there is any way for party to show grievances, they should not take law into our hands.

The state APC Chairman, Sunday Fagbemi, applauded the state independent electoral commission for its steadfastness, commitment and dedication.

He noted that the commission had laid a foundation for peaceful elections in the state and urged it to sustain the momentum.

Fagbemi identified politics or election as a game that should naturally be with the spirit of sportsmanship for contestants.

He said there can’t be any development without peace and called on the people of the state to imbibe peace.

The state Deputy Chairman of Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC, Adeshina Ajisafe, acknowledged the peace that had characterised preparation for the local government elections and thanked KWSIEC for carrying parties along in its activities.

He urged political parties to continue on the path of peace.

“If there is chaos in an election, it does not come from anywhere, it is from we citizens. And I’m glad to tell us here that the outcome of 2023 elections showed that Kwara was peaceful throughout the electioneering period. All of us should remain calm and peaceful throughout the forthcoming local government elections”, IPAC chief said.

Also at the event, the state Chairman of the Labour Party, LP, Samson Ajibade, requested KWSIEC to allow IPAC to participate in the polls as an observer.

Representatives of political parties in attendance were Action People’s Party (APP), All Progressives Congress (APC), Labour Party (LP), Young People’s Party (YPP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Accord (A) and Action Alliance (AA) among others.

Leaders and supporters of the various political parties have intensified campaigns across the sixteen local government areas of the state to ensure the victory of their candidates during the polls.

A Cross section of concerned citizens of Kwara State who spoke with VON on the forthcoming local Government elections appealed to KWASIEC to be fair in the conduct of the exercise while various political parties, their leaders and supporters should not see the exercise as a do or die affair.