Political parties participating in the local government elections scheduled for October 5 in Akwa Ibom state have pledged to ensure that there is no violence throughout the exercise across the 31 LGAs of the state.
Leaders and candidates of the political parties made the pledge during the signing of peace accord on Thursday by chairmen of the 12 political parties participating in the election at the State Police Headquarters, Ikot Akpan Abia, Uyo.
The state commissioner of police, Joseph Eribo and the chairman of the State Independent Electoral Commission (AKISIEC), Aniedi Ikoiwak witnessed the ceremony.
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Speaking earlier, CP Eribo urged the political parties to eschew violence before, during and after the election, warning that perpetrators of violence will be arrested and prosecuted.
He said that the State Police Command in collaboration with other security agencies have deployed full weight of it’s operatives to provide security for the election.
“Politics is not a do or die affair. It is antithetical to damage or destroy through violence the very people you want to govern.
“I don’t want to hear of violence or anything of sort anywhere in the state.
“I want to warn that anyone caught threatening the peaceful conduct of the election will be arrested and prosecuted.
“The local government election is family affair so like I said the police is fully prepared alongside other security agencies to forestall any infractions”, Eribo said.
Chairman of AKISIEC, Aniedi Ikoiwak disclosed that non-sensitive materials had already been sent to the 31 local government areas of the state ahead of the Saturday election.
He said the Commission intends to conduct a free, fair and all-inclusive election and has displayed cleared voter registers in all the wards and local government areas of the state.
