Edo State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chairman Anthony Aziegbemi and the party’s candidate, Asue Ighodalo, who were present during the signing of the Peace Accord, declined to sign.

Aziegbemi told newsmen that they were declining because 10 members of the party were currently being detained by the police in Abuja.

It would be recalled that the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, on Wednesday during the stakeholders meeting, said he was not aware that PDP members were arrested in the state.

The Convener of the National Peace Committee, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, charged the candidates to see peace as a foundation for credible election.

Kukah said that the task before the committee was to support the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure a peaceful election devoid of violence.

Kukah urged Edo people to go out and cast their votes, saying that Edo should count themselves lucky having produced top politicians in Nigeria.

In his welcome remarks, the Chairman, National Peace Committee, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, said the ceremony was a commitment to uphold the peace, unity, and democratic values of the nation

Abubakar noted that since the committee’s formation in 2014, its had worked tirelessly to foster an environment where every Nigerian could exercise their constitutional right to vote without fear of violence or intimidation.

He appealed to candidates, parties and their supporters to remember that peace was the foundation upon which progress and development was built and established.

Also speaking, the Chairman of INEC,  Mahmood Yakubu assured that INEC would continue to play its part in line with the electoral laws.

Yakubu thanked the Peace Committee for bringing the political parties and their candidates together to agree to a peaceful election.

The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, noted that the Police in collaboration with other security agencies would be supporting INEC in conducting the election.

The All Progressives Congress, APC, which had earlier announced that it will boycott the signing of the Peace Accord, eventually made a U-turn and signed the agreement.

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They urged the Commission to be neutral to ensure a free and fair election come September 21, 2024.

A concern group, the Edo Youth Collectives, warned that all eyes are on INEC to remain neutral and not to take side with any political parties.

Secretary of the group, Musa Iyoha, said the allegations that faulty BVAS machines were sent to strongholds of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, should be addressed.

Iyoha also urged the Commission to address allegations that the state Resident Electoral Commissioner is taking sides with the All Progressives Congress, APC.   Iyoha said the electoral body must not only act in a neutral way but must be seen to be neutral.

The  Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, said it has received the funds for the conduct of the Edo State governorship election.

INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu disclosed this during an inspection of the Commission’s facilities in Benin City.  According to him, all the funds for the election were received and released to the state and the 18 local government offices before the recent increase of the fuel price.

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