Peace Accord Signing Set for November 8 Ahead of Ondo Governorship Election

As the November 16 Ondo State Governorship election approaches, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced a peace accord signing for candidates on November 8. This event will be facilitated by the National Peace Committee, chaired by former Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar.

The initiative aims to ensure that candidates commit to a peaceful and violence-free election as the campaign intensifies in the final two weeks leading up to the polls. INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, shared this information during a quarterly consultative meeting with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Abuja on Thursday.

“On this note, I am also glad to announce that the National Peace Committee, under the leadership of our respected former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, is holding the signing of the Peace Accord for parties and candidates in Ondo State on Friday, November 8, 2024,” he stated.

Yakubu also highlighted potential conflict areas in Ondo State, indicating that the commission is working closely with security agencies to mitigate violence. “However, we are aware of flashpoints in some Local Government Areas to which we have already drawn the attention of the security agencies,” he added.

He underscored the critical role of civil society in promoting peaceful elections and urged CSOs that observed the recent Edo Governorship election to submit their reports promptly. “As the Ondo State Governorship approaches, I wish to remind CSOs that are yet to submit reports for the Edo Governorship election to do so in earnest,” he noted.

Discussing the election’s preparedness, Yakubu reported that nearly 72 percent of registered voters have collected their Permanent Voter Cards. He also announced a mock accreditation exercise set for November 6 at selected polling units to test result uploads on the INEC Result Viewing portal.

In an ongoing effort to ensure a secure and credible election, he mentioned that INEC will conduct a final assessment of logistical arrangements and work with security agencies to address potential flashpoints. “As early as next week, the Commission will undertake a final readiness assessment of our preparations for the Ondo election, meet with our officials, engage with stakeholders, and interact with the security agencies and transport providers,” he concluded.