The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has declined to sign the peace accord for the Edo State Governorship election set for September 21.
Former Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar made this announcement on Thursday at the peace accord signing event in Benin.
While thanking those who signed the peace accord, he said, “As you must have seen in the media, I met the Governor (Godwin Obaseki) yesterday and he told me that the PDP is not going to sign this peace accord.
“They have made some observations and I was expecting the Chairman of the PDP to come and make that statement. Having waited for him this long, it is just to announce that the PDP said they are not going to sign.”
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According to General Abdulsalami Abubakar, the PDP has stated that it will only sign the peace accord if certain conditions are met.
The state PDP Chairman, who was present at the venue, did not provide details on why the party refused to sign the accord.
However, Governor Godwin Obaseki had indicated on Wednesday that the PDP might not sign the accord. He made this comment during a meeting with members of the National Peace Committee, led by General Abdulsalami Abubakar.
The governor criticized security operatives for allegedly favoring the All Progressives Congress (APC), claiming that the police had obtained warrants and arrested PDP members, which effectively forced the party’s leaders into hiding.
“Until everybody (party members) arrested in Edo is released or brought back to Edo to be tried for whatever offences you claimed they have committed, we have no confidence that the police is going to protect us in this election,” Governor Obaseki said.
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On the same day, Don-Pedro Obaseki, Deputy Director General of the PDP campaign, explained the party’s reasons for not signing the peace accord during his appearance on Politics Today.
While the PDP and its candidate for the election, Mr. Asue Ighodalo, chose not to sign, other parties did.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, Mr. Monday Okpebholo, as well as the Labour Party and its candidate, Mr. Olumide Akpata, signed the accord.
Additional signatories included the Accord Party, Accord Alliance, African Action Congress, African Democratic Congress, and Action Democratic Party, along with the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Allied Peoples Movement, Action Peoples Party, National Rescue Movement, Peoples Redemption Party, Social Democratic Party, Youth Party, and the Young Progressives Party (YPP).
The National Peace Committee, established in 2014, is a non-governmental organization made up of respected elder statesmen aimed at ensuring free, fair, credible, and peaceful elections.
Over the past decade, the committee has focused on maintaining law and order during election periods.
A key aspect of its work involves the signing of peace accords by political parties and candidates prior to elections.
General Abdulsalami Abubakar serves as the Chairman, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe (Retired) is the Vice Chairman, and Bishop Mathew Kukah is the Convener.
Notable members include the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad III, and Alhaji Aliko Dangote, among others.
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