Candidates of political parties contesting in the Edo State gubernatorial election, on Tuesday, signed a Peace accord in Benin city, the state capital, barely four days to the election.
The deal which was facilitated by the National Peace Committee, had in attendance the Chairman, National Peace Committee and former Head of State, Abdulsalam Abubakar, member of the committee and Catholic Bishop, Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Matthew Kukah among others.
A member of YIAGA Africa’s board, Ezenwa Nwagu, who spoke to Channels Television, said the accord is necessary following the previous narrative that suggests the drums of war in the election.
Nwagu said YIAGA in collaboration with the National Peace Committee organised the event to douse tension in some quarters and avoid bloodshed on Saturday.
“The Peace Committee led by General Abubakar, Mathew Kukah, and the rest of them have moral weight and authority.
“So YIAGA Africa, working with the peace committee, decided to source that moral weight to bring it to bear on political actors in Edo State to ensure they understand that this election is about the Edo people and their livelihood,” he told Channels Television.
Members of the political, traditional, and religious circles were there to witness the signing, to pave way for the smooth conduct of the exercise.
