From Moshood Karim
Tension is brewing ahead of the August 16 bye-election in Edo State as four political parties have refused to sign a peace accord organised by the Edo State Police Command to ensure a violence-free poll.
The accord-signing ceremony, held on Thursday at the Command Headquarters in Benin City, brought together stakeholders from security agencies, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and traditional institutions. Out of the nine parties contesting, only five – the All Progressives Congress (APC), African Democratic Congress (ADC), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Action Alliance (AA), and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) – signed the agreement.
The remaining four, whose identities were not disclosed at the event, were conspicuously absent, fuelling speculation over their commitment to peaceful participation in the exercise.
Commissioner of Police Monday Agbonika, who presided over the event, vowed to protect the integrity of the electoral process and warned that the Command would deal decisively with anyone involved in violence or voter intimidation.
INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner in Edo State, Professor Anugbum Onuaha, reassured that electoral materials had been dispatched, while the Iyase of Benin’s representative, Chief Jackson Igbinovia, called on political actors to put the state’s interest above partisan rivalry.
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