Edo North candidates sign peace pact

• Agree to abide by poll results

CANDIDATES of the various political parties in Edo North Senatorial District have signed a peace pact to ensure  violence-free elections on March 28 and April 11, 2015.

  At the end of a meeting of all the candidates held in Auchi, they also pledged to ensure that their campaigns would be issue-based and devoid of religious or ethnic considerations.

  The meeting was convened by Mr. Abdulkareem Ikharo, the founder and national coordinator of a non-governmental organization, League of National Patriots, based in Lagos.

  The event which was chaired by the Aidonogie of South Ibie HRH Alhaji Kevin Danesi, was attended by the Social Democratic Party’s (SDP’s) candidate for the Senate, a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abubakar Momoh; PDP candidate and a former Chief Whip of Edo State House of Assembly, Mr. Pascal Ugbomeh; Hon. Abbass Braimah of Etsako Federal Constituency; and Hon. Peters Akpatason of the APC from Akoko Edo Federal Constituency. Hon. Pally Iriase, APC Owan Federal Constituency and Hon. Philip Shaibu, APC in Etsako Federal Constituency were represented by their campaign DGs. All House of Assembly candidates were in attendance.

  The occasion also availed the candidates the opportunity to present their programmes after which they answered questions from the public.

  Ikharo expressed satisfaction at the success of the event and promised to “liaise with relevant agencies to ensure that the candidates are held accountable to their undertaking.”

  He added: “ The event was designed to provide an avenue for the candidates to interface with their constituents with a view to making a better opinion and understanding of the candidates and their disposition to duly represent the people of Edo North.

 “What we have seen and heard will afford our platform the needed impetus to better inform the electorates on how to make their final choices on who to vote for that can positively represent and address the yearning and aspirations of the people of Edo North.

 “We are now better informed and have the right message for our various sub-groups and voters. We are not partisan but interested in ensuring that the people are adequately sensitised to make a more informed decision. We will follow closely on the pledges made by the candidates and educate the electorates accordingly.”