2023 ELECTIONS: POLICE WARN AGAINST VIOLENCE AS PARTIES SIGN PEACE ACCORD IN ANAMBRA
REPORTER: UCHE NDEKE
Political stakeholders in Anambra state have signed a peace accord ahead of the 2023 general election.
The police command in Anambra State invited all relevant stakeholders, including party chairmen, candidates, traditional rulers, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with a view to seeing that they all willingly committed to ensuring a peaceful process.
During the event, which took place at the Police Command headquarters Amawbia, the Commissioner of Police , Mr. Echeng Echeng, charged the stakeholders to caution their relations and party supporters against any form of violence during and after the exercise.
Mr. Echeng said the security operatives were ready and have put necessary arrangements in place to guarantee safety of lives and property before, during and afer the elections.
Represented by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Finance and Administration, Mr. Peter Ozigi, the Police Commissioner said “the Peace Accord signing is engaging all strategic stakeholders to advance the nation’s democracy as it provides a unique opportunity to brainstorm on pathways to guaranteeing a stable internal security space, during the forth coming polls.”
He warned those planning to cause violence to have a rethink as Anambra State Police Command was committed to dealing firmly with them within the dictates of the law.
This, according to him, is in furtherance to the Inspector General Of Police’s (IGP’s) desire to bequeath a legacy of entrenched democratic values to the nation.
Anambra State Commissioner for Homeland and Security Affairs, Chikodi Anara, while expressing the confidence of the state government that the 2023 elections would be peaceful, noted that necessary measures had been put in place to ensure a level playing ground for all the candidates and stakeholders involved in the exercise.
The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in charge of Anambra state, who was represented by the Head of Department, Election and Party Monitoring, Mr. Emmanuel Isong, said the Commission was very prepared for the election and appealed to the stakeholders to see the Peace Accord as a solemn covenant to keep the peace.
The traditional ruler of Umueri, Igwe Beneth Emeka, who spoke on behalf of the Traditional Rulers Council, Anambra State, reminded members of political players that they were all brothers and should know that none of their ambitions was worth the blood of any citizen.
Some of the stakeholders, Chief Ndubuisi Nwobu, Mr. Chukwunonso Nwebili and Mr. Chukwuma Okoye, while expressing their displeasure over the low turnout of many of the candidates and party leaders for the all important event, commended the Police Command and the INEC for the level of preparedness made so far towards having peaceful elections.
Radio Nigeria observed that all the political actors who graced the occasion agreed to work with both the Independent National Electoral Commission and all security agencies to ensure a peaceful, smooth, free and fair elections in the state.
EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU
