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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Elections & Politics

Osun poll: INEC urges parties to honor peace accord amid rising tensions

From The Punch · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Nigeria's Independent National Electoral Commission urged political parties to honor their peace accord for the upcoming Osun State governorship election.
  • The commission acknowledged rising tensions but expressed confidence in a secure election, supported by 15,000 police personnel.
  • INEC has deployed non-sensitive materials and will begin distributing sensitive materials from the Central Bank of Nigeria on Friday.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has called on political parties and candidates to uphold the peace accord they signed ahead of Saturday's Osun State governorship election. Adedayo Oketola, Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the INEC Chairman, emphasized the accord's importance on ADBN TV, amid growing concerns about pre-election tensions.

The Peace Accord, you know, that was put together by the National Peace Committee in collaboration with INEC, it wasn’t just a jamboree.

— Adedayo OketolaChief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the INEC Chairman, emphasizing the seriousness of the peace accord.

Oketola reminded participants that the peace accord, facilitated by the National Peace Committee in collaboration with INEC, was a public commitment to maintain peace and adhere to the law. "It is important for all of us to understand that it was a public component by political parties with the people of Osun State that come what way, we will maintain peace and order," he stated.

It is important for all of us to understand that it was a public component by political parties with the people of Osun State that come what way, we will maintain peace and order and ensure that we maintain discipline and do everything by the law on election day.

— Adedayo OketolaHighlighting the public commitment made by political parties through the peace accord.

Despite acknowledging escalated tensions since recent stakeholder engagements, INEC remains confident in conducting a secure election. The commission has deployed a large team, led by its chairman, to assess the state's preparedness. The police have announced the deployment of 15,000 personnel to ensure security during the poll.

So, it is important for political actors to honour that Peace Accord. That is why it will continue to be relevant. If we know that the Peace Accord means nothing, why are we organising it? So first, the political parties have made a public commitment. We must honour it.

— Adedayo OketolaUrging political actors to respect the peace accord.

INEC has completed the deployment of non-sensitive election materials to local government areas. The distribution of sensitive materials from the Central Bank of Nigeria is scheduled to begin Friday, with further movement to Registration Area Centres planned for officials to prepare overnight before election day.

I concede that there have been tensions in Osun run up to today.

— Adedayo OketolaAcknowledging the escalation of tensions ahead of the election.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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