2019 Polls: APGA Candidate In Nasarawa Signs Peace Accord.
By Moses Gbande
Barely three Weeks to the general elections in the countryt
, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) governorship candidate in Nasarawa state, Mr Labaran Maku has finally signed the peace pact ahead of the forthcoming general elections.
The peace agreement which was organized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) some weeks ago at the Ta’al conference Hotel in Lafia was attended by the governorship flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party and some other Political Parties in the state.
The APGA candidate and that of the Ruling All Progressives Congress could not show up at the event.
Speaking after signing the peace pact form at the INEC Office on Friday, Maku promised to concentrate only on issues- based campaign that would be devoid of hate speech that may lead to election violence.
“God has been faithful to me and has lifted me up to a minister, so, I cannot engineer crisis because the progress and development of the country is dear to me, I do not want any life to be lost on the account of my ambition to be governor of Nasarawa State, if am not alive, I cannot contest for any position, so I want my supporters to be alive so that if I win, I will better their lives and develop the state,” Maku posted.
Maku who is a former Minister of Information, stressed the need for INEC Officials to maintain high level of neutrality as a step to curtail post election violence.
He noted that, history has it that the passive lack of neutrality by the electoral empire was responsible for most of the post elections violence in the World.
“The annulment of 1993 presidential election in the country and other cases were clear examples of lack of neutrality by the electoral empire, even in Nasarawa State, election results were manipulated by the electoral empire, so, as we politicians commit ourselves to do things that would ensure peace, INEC needs to also do their part”.
Responding, Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Utman Ajedagba expressed gratitude to the candidate and his party for signing the pact.
Ajedagba who promised that the commission will resist every pressure from politicians to influence the outcome of the forthcoming general election in the state, assured political parties that the commission will continue to create a level playing ground for them, adding that the Commission is prepared to conduct an election that would be better than previous ones.
Our correspondent gathered that the electoral umpire has commenced the training of its Ad hoc staff in preparation to the forthcoming general elections.
The about 30,000 people recruited to serve as Presiding officers and other categories of staff includes National Youths service corp members.
Nasarawa Reporters 