Governorship candidates in Oyo State have agreed to allow a level playing ground before, during and after the 2023 general elections.

The candidates made the pledge while signing a peace agreement in Ibadan, organised by the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Mr Adebowale Williams. 

While briefing the candidates on the importance of peace, the chief convener of the Peace Accord committee and the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, Senator Rashidi Ladoja said they should all eschew violence and embrace peace before, during and after the coming elections. 

Senator Ladoja cautioned them against a campaign of bitterness which he said could create rancour in the state.

He admonished them to focus on issue-based campaigns for the betterment of all the citizens. 

Senator Ladoja noted that the candidates should remember that life would continue after the elections, hence the need for free and fair campaigns and elections. 

On his part, the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, Resident Electoral Commissioner in Oyo State, Dr Raman Tella, said the peace agreement signed by the candidates indicated that the elections would be conducted in a peaceful manner.

He said INEC was ready to deliver and put all necessary machinery in place to ensure that the elections were free, fair and balanced.

The REC, therefore, called on the residents of Oyo State who were yet to collect their PVCs to do so as INEC had 743,690 uncollected cards with them.

He added that INEC in Oyo State had extended their polling units to 6,390 to reduce the stress people go through while trying to exercise their rights on election days.

One of the governorship candidates in Oyo State and the governor of Oyo State, Engineer Seyi Makinde said the signing of the peace agreement among the candidates would go a long way at ensuring and maintaining a peaceful atmosphere before, during and after elections. 

Reacting, the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Mr Adebowale Williams said the signing of the peace accord became imperative as the nation navigated towards the general elections.

Mr Williams noted that there was the need for repeated emphasis on peaceful electioneering before, during and after the exercise to enable members of the public to exercise their franchise without fear or intimidation from anyone.

The parties, their candidates and their supporters were therefore enjoined to be guided by the guidelines for political rallies recently released by INEC.

“So far, the command and indeed the security space is concerned about the disturbing extremities and desperation displayed by some political gladiators. Recently, Oyo State witnessed needless destruction of billboards and defacing of posters of opposing aspirants to stir up provocations and bloody reprisals but for the prompt intervention of security operatives.”

“Hence, the need to reach out to leaders wielding diverse degrees of influence within and outside Oyo State was inevitable for the purposes of guidance and preservation of the state’s relative peace from agents of anarchy and mischief.”

The Commissioner of Police stated further that this process would encourage issue-based campaigns at all levels, devoid of religious, ethnic and tribal incitement by political actors or their supporters acting in the capacity of their principal.

“Dissuade aspirants and any other persons, acting in the capacity of their principals from inciting violence through provocative utterances and hate speeches.”

“Support all institutions of government including INEC, police and other security agencies towards ensuring that the electorates exercise their franchise without fear of harassment or molestation.”

While assuring the electorates of their safety before, during and after the elections, the Police Commissioner also promised to leave no stone unturned in dealing decisively with any individual or group that planned to disrupt the process regardless of their interests or affiliations.

Rasheedah Makinde

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