2023 Election: Some Parties Absent As Political Parties Sign Peace Accord Organized By Anambra Police Command
Some Political Parties were reportedly absent as representatives and candidates of various political parties taking part in the 2023 General Election, signed a peace accord in Anambra State, pledging to ensure a peaceful and violence-free election.
The political parties absent include the All Progressive Congress (APC) and the New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP).
The event was rganised by the Anambra State Police Command, and moderated by the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Ikenga Tochukwu, on Friday at the Command’s Headquarters in Amawbia.
Candidates and representatives of five political parties present signed the pact.
The political parties that have their representatives and/or candidates present during the exercise include the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the Labour Party (LP), the Allied People’s Movement (APM), the Young People’s Party (YPP) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
Also present during the exercise were the representative of the Anambra State Government, representative of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the Representative of the Anambra State Council of Traditional Rulers, as well as other senior officers of the Command.
Speaking on the occasion, the State Commissioner of Police, CP Echeng Echeng, represented by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Administration and Finance, DCP Peter Ozigi, explained that peace accord aimed at binding the political parties and political actors in the state to play by the rules of the game, both before, during and after the election, to ensure peaceful, secured, free, fair, and credible election.
The CP revealed that the Command had had similar engagements with political actors and stakeholders in the state sometime in September last year; reassured the Command’s readiness for the election, as well as its commitment in maintaining and promoting internal peace in the state. He warned that anybody or group that indulges in any act capable of bridging the peace and security of the state will be lawfully dealt with.
“I also wish to sternly warn elements whose perception of democracy is the application of violence, to have a rethink, as Anambra State Police Command, under my watch, is committed to dealing firmly with such characters within the dictates of the law which is in furtherance to the Inspector-General of Police desire to bequeath a legacy of entrenched democratic values to our beloved nation,” he said.
Earlier speaking, the representative of the state government and Commissioner for Homeland Affairs, Mr. Chikaodiri Anara highlighted some of the efforts so far made by the state government, the security agencies, and the INEC towards ensuring a hitch-free election general election in the state, even as he called for sustenance and consolidation of those efforts, both before, during and after the election.
He commended the Anambra State Police Command and the INEC for their commitments, while also reassuring that the Soludo-led Anambra State Government will continue to play her own part, as peace and security, remain the topmost priority of his administration. He also urged the residents of the state to come out en masse and cast their votes in peace on the election day, without any fear.
On his own part, the representative of the Resident Electoral Commission in the state and Head of Department, Election and Party Monitoring (INEC Anambra), Mr. Emmanuel Isong reassured of the Commission’s preparedness to conduct free, fair, credible, and peaceful election, while also urging the stakeholders and political actors to allow the officials constitutionally discharge their assigned duties without interference or intimidation.
Contributing, the representative of the Anambra State Council of Traditional Rulers and Traditional Ruler of Umueri, Igwe Ben Emeka, commended the state police command for organising the exercise.
He, however, expressed dismay at the low turnout of political actors at the event.
Igwe Emeke reminded Anambra politicians that they are brothers and sisters, and that no blood of anybody is worth shedding, and further advised them to abide by the Peace Accord they signed.
He also urged them to prevail on their supporters to be law abiding and adhere strictly to the rules of the game.
In a vote of than, the Deputy Director, Operations, Atiku-Okowa Campaign in Anambra State, Sir Ndubuisi Nwobu, commended the police for deeming it necessary to organise the Peace Accord, expressing optimism that the exercise will help ensure conducive environment for INEC to discharge its duties effectively, and for people to participate in the election peacefully without any form of violence.
An case was also made for Anambra State Police Command to ensure that those parties and candidates who were absent at the event were also made to sign the peace pact.
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