TheCable

Candidates participating in the October 10 governorship poll in Ondo state have signed a peace pact to ensure a violence-free election.

Rotimi Akeredolu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Eyitayo Jegede of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Agboola Ajayi of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), and other candidates signed the peace pact facilitated by the National Peace Committee (NPC) on Tuesday.

They all pledged to shun violence during the election and avoid actions that may undermine the peace accord.

The signing of the peace accord was witnessed by Mohammed Adamu, inspector-general of police; Mahmoud Yakubu, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC); and traditional rulers from the state.

Others in attendance were Abdulsalam Abubakar, former head of state; Sa’ad Abubakar, Sultan of Sokoto; Matthew Kukah, Catholic bishop of Sokoto diocese, and John Onaiyekan, former Catholic archbishop of Abuja.

Akeredolu said the Saturday election will be peaceful and urged INEC to ensure that the election is free, fair and credible.

He also asked the people of the state to avoid violence before, during, and after the election.

On his part, Jegede called on the security agencies to be neutral in the discharge of their duties during the election.