From Olu Samuel, Lokoja
Ahead of the forthcoming 2027 elections,19 political parties in Kogi State have signed a peace accord pledging to conduct their campaigns and other political activities peacefully and in accordance with the law.
The agreement was reached on Tuesday during an engagement between the Inter-Consultative Committee on Election Security and political parties at the Kogi State Police Command Headquarters in Lokoja.
The 19 parties agreed to participate and commit themselves to peaceful participation in the elections and vowed to refrain from actions capable of causing violence, disorder or disruption of the electoral process.
Under the accord, the parties and their candidates agreed to base their campaigns on policies, programmes, manifestos and issues affecting the people of Kogi State.
They also pledged not to use campaign platforms to promote hatred, ethnic or religious division, personal attacks, inflammatory rhetoric or incitement.
The political parties rejected the use, sponsorship or mobilisation of individuals and groups for electoral violence, intimidation, threats or disruption of political activities.
They further agreed to take reasonable steps to ensure that their supporters and campaign organisations conduct themselves peacefully throughout the electoral process.
The parties also committed to respecting the independence and lawful functions of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other institutions responsible for administering and securing elections.
They pledged to cooperate with electoral and security authorities to facilitate peaceful elections while exercising restraint in public statements, speeches, broadcasts and social media communications.
The accord also prohibits the deliberate circulation of false information, inflammatory messages, threats or other content capable of provoking violence or undermining public confidence in the electoral process.
The parties agreed to respect the rights of rival political parties and candidates to campaign and participate in the electoral process without obstruction, harassment, threats or unlawful interference.
They also committed to protecting the rights of eligible citizens to participate freely in elections without intimidation, coercion, harassment or discrimination.
According to the agreement, no party, candidate or supporter shall unlawfully interfere with a voter’s freedom to choose a candidate of their preference.
On election results, the parties agreed to respect lawful procedures for the announcement and declaration of results, stressing that any candidate or party dissatisfied with an electoral decision should seek redress through available legal and constitutional mechanisms rather than resorting to violence or self-help.
The commitment, the parties stated, would continue beyond the declaration of results, with all political actors expected to discourage retaliation, reprisal attacks, destruction of property and other forms of post-election violence.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by officials of the Kogi State Police Command, INEC, representatives of other security agencies, civil society and election observer groups, as well as religious institutions.
The Kogi state police commissioner,ACP Bello Kankarofi said “we expected all political parties, candidates and their supporters to uphold the spirit of the accord in the interest of peace and credible elections in the state.”