Poll in Nigeria’s Edo State “opportunity to demonstrate dedication to peaceful democratic transitions”: Peace Committee

Members of the Non-Governmental Organization conceptualized in 2014 to respond to emerging threats occasioned by the 2015 general elections call on political candidates and their supporters to refrain from violence and intimidation, noting that “the responsibility for peace belongs to each of us.”

In their statement, NPC members call upon the electorate in Edo State to participate in the poll, and add, “Your vote is your voice, and through your participation, we can collectively build a better future for Edo State.”

They appeal to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, and other relevant bodies to ensure that the election is conducted with “utmost transparency and integrity.”

The NPC members stress that both the nation and the international community are paying keen attention to the electoral process and emphasize the need for INEC members to “reinforce public trust to ensure free, fair, and credible elections.”

To underscore their desire for a peaceful poo, NPC members have declared September 12 for signing the Edo State Peace Accord. The Gubernatorial candidates and their respective political parties are to sign the accord at Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub Facility in Benin “as a formal pledge to conduct the elections peacefully,” the committee members say.

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The gubernatorial election in Edo State was not conducted alongside the February 2023 general elections due to its “off-cycle” status, which arose after the State's electoral calendar shifted from the national cycle “primarily due to legal battles” following previous gubernatorial elections.

The decision that the court made in 2008 altered the electoral timetable for the Nigerian State, placing its Gubernatorial poll on a separate schedule from the national elections. 

Silas Mwale Isenjia is a Kenyan journalist with a great zeal and interest for Catholic Church related communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communication from Moi University in Kenya. Silas has vast experience in the Media production industry. He currently works as a Journalist for ACI Africa.