Benue politicians sign peace pact

WITH the recent directive issued by the Inspector General of Police that all political parties and their candidates for the forth coming elections in the country do not ignite crisis in their domain, candidates contending for various positions under different political parties  Wednesday, throng out  en masse to sign the peace accord.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hyacinth Dagala had cautioned aspirants against the dangers of violence at the forthcoming general election and called for restraint.

In his remark, Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), in Benue, Professor Istifanus Dafwang, appealed to all political parties and candidates contesting for elective offices to sign and abide by the tenets of the peace accord.

 Prof. Dafwang who said INEC was set for the election in the state, however, stressed the need for stakeholders and other members of the community to cooperate with INEC so as to avert violence.

The All Progressives Congress (APC), governorship candidate in Benue State, Dr. Samuel Ortom called on the police to always ensure justice and fairness to all citizens at the election; noting that to him, election is not a do or die affair.

 Ortom who also appealed to all other contestants to  subject themselves to the peace accord further urged the security agents to ensure that there is a level playing ground  for all contestants even as he promised to ensure that members of his party abide by the peace pact.

Similarly, the running mate candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. John Ngbede promised to ensure that PDP members abide by the peace accord as no violence will come from the party.

According to Ngbede, “wherever we belong or come from, we must talk and think of Benue since we are all one.”

Other groups that witnessed the peace pact were representatives of the Army, Navy, Air force, Civil Defense and other para military agents in the state.