Candidates of 17 political parties participating in the Edo governorship election will be signing the peace accord on September 12, 2024, in Benin City, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said. 
  
Those expected to commit themselves to a peaceful poll include the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Asue Ighodalo, All Progressives Congress (APC), Monday Okpebholo, Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party (LP), among others. 
  
The occasion will be presided over by the former military Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar. INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who disclosed this at an emergency meeting with the leadership of political parties, yesterday, in Abuja, said that the decision to sign the peace accord early is to enable the National Peace Committee (NPC) to monitor compliance by the parties before the election.
  
Yakubu said: “After consultation with the NPC under the leadership of our respected former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, the signing of the peace accord for the Edo State governorship election will be held on Thursday, September 12, 2024, in Benin City.”

“Supported by eminent members of the peace committee, the occasion will be presided over by the Chairman, Abubakar. Unlike previous peace accords signed a few days before the election, it was decided that this would be done early this time to enable the peace committee to monitor compliance with the code voluntarily signed by parties, candidates and other critical players in the electoral process such as INEC and the security agencies during the remaining days to the election. This will add further weight to the accord beyond mere ceremony, as demanded by many observers and even some political actors themselves.”