17 political parties Candidates contending for September 21st Edo State governorship election on Thursday in Benin City signed the Peace Accord, which is a moral obligation to uphold principles of transparency and commitment that de-legitimizes the process in an election.
But, the chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, Tony Aziegbemin and the party’s Candidate, Asue Ighodalo appeared at the venue in Benin City, but declined signing the document.
The Committee stood down for PDP Candidate and its chairman, Tony Aziegbemin while at the podium, queried the usefulness of the peace accord pact, alleging unlawful detention of “10 PDP members in gestapo style by the police and detained in Abuja without trial”.
After waiting for about 30 minutes to sign at the sideline of his interview session with journalists, Aziegbemin, accused the Nigeria police of bias, returned to the podium.
But, the chairman of the Peace Accord, announced to stakeholders at the event that having waited with baited breath for the duo to sign and they did not show up, “the Committee will not go on with the rest activities”.
Suddenly, Aziegbemin, made appearance apparently to address other nagging issues, including crisis of confidence and signed the piece of document, saying, “I have been here!”.
Abdulsalami insisted that the duo has missed the opportunity, saying, “No, we have waited for you long enough”, but to the amazement of political actors and the convener of the Peace Accord, Bishop Hassan Kukah.
Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun and the Convener of the National Peace Accord, Bishop Hassan Kukah, sued for commitment towards a peaceful and credible poll.
A group of Edo women protesters temporarily shut down the Airport Road and part of the King square and part of airport road in Benin City
to activate response.
The operatives also resisted attempts by the protesters in black attire, laid siege to entrance to the venue for the event for over three hours.
They demanded for unconditional release of arrested Edo PDP leaders and supporters in police custody over election related violence in Edo State.
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