Fayose, Opposition Parties Sign Peace Pact Ahead Polls

EKITI State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, and other politicians from the opposition parties Friday signed a peace pact and promised to eschew violence during the March 28 and April 11, this year, general elections.

  The peace pact was at the instance of the Police and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), led by the Resident Electoral Commission in the state, Mr. Sam Olumekun.

  The parties to the peace pact included the Peoples Democratic Party (APC), All Progressives Congress (APC), Labour Party (LP) and KOWA.

  The Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 8, Mr. Christopher Dega and the Commissioner of Police in Ekiti, Mr. Taiwo Lakanu, said the peace pact became imperative in order to allay the fears in some quarters that there would be violence during the forthcoming polls.

  Dega, who warned against political thuggery, urged politicians to play by the rules, saying they must curtail their overzealous supporters for Ekiti to be in peace.

  The AIG said: “This effort is to allay the fears in the state to forestall anxiety and violence. We believe there is need to emphasise non-violence in the course of these elections and the commitment we are extracting from you today must be protected for the state to be safe for all of us.”

  The state REC, Olumekun, said a total of 2,253 smart card readers have been deployed to Ekiti to ensure that all eligible voters are scrutinised and authenticated before voting.

  Olumekun added that a total of 498, 598 Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) had been distributed out of the 732, 021 total registered voters in the state, which accounted for about 70 per cent.

  Speaking at the event, Fayose said using the military and police to win elections was no longer fashionable in Nigeria, saying any politician relying on such would be disappointed in the forthcoming general elections.

  Fayose assured the opposition parties that he would not use his office to muzzle them in the coming elections, adding that he would allow the wishes of the people to prevail as they did to him in the June 21, 2014, governorship election.

  Fayose said: “Whatever connection you have with the police can’t help you in this election. The only thing that can help you is your connection with the people. My election had actually confirmed this. 

  “I am ready to submit myself to the law. I have no reason to muzzle anybody because whether you muzzle the opposition or not, what God will do, He will do. So, I am assuring the main opposition party, APC, that their members won’t be muzzled or victimised in the course of these elections.

  “As the governor, I represent the face of the state and I have to be magnanimous in victory by protecting everybody, regardless of your political beliefs. So, I want to thank the Police, because it is good to get us committed.”