Political parties in Ondo State have called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, the police and other security agencies to provide a level playing field for all parties involved in the coming elections.
Representatives of the parties gave the charge in Akure on Tuesday while signing a peace accord, pledging to ensure a peaceful conduct of the elections.
The parties who signed the pact were Accord Party, Action Alliance, African Democratic Congress, African Peoples Alliance, Allied Congress Party of Nigeria, Alliance for Democracy, All Progressives Congress, Citizen Popular Party, Hope Democratic Party, Kowa Party and Labour Party.
Others were Mega Progressive People Party, National Conscience Party, Peoples Democratic Party, Peoples Party of Nigeria, Progressive People’s Alliance, Social Democratic Party, United Democratic Party and United Progressive Party.
Speaking on behalf of the PDP, the state Deputy Chairman, Fatai Adams, said his party was committed to peace, but called on INEC to be impartial.
“We will like to appeal to security agencies and INEC to play according to the rules of the game. They should give a level playing field to all stakeholders,” he said.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the APC in the state, Isaac Kekemeke, noted that although the state had witnessed peace, there were some thugs who pose as important citizens, threatening the peace of the state.
“There are some fringe actors who appear to be very powerful and they are threatening to cause violence during the elections. We have alerted the police commissioner and we hope he will act on it.
“The security agencies must deal with them to ensure peace during the election. INEC must maintain neutrality and be fair to all.” he said.
Addressing the political parties, the Commissioner of Police, Isaac Eke, said no credible leadership could emerge in an atmosphere of rancour, violence and chaos.
He said, “I want to say our gathering together today is a child of necessity; and that without mincing words, the desire of the common man on the street, the market women, the artisan, the student, the old and young citizens of our fatherland is a peaceful environment for congenial development.”
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