Political parties sign commitment for peaceful by-elections in Plateau
Political parties sign commitment for peaceful by-elections in Plateau
Political parties on Thursday signed a commitment to conduct peaceful by-elections in Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency and Pankshin South State Constituency.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in conjunction with Dialogue Reconciliation and Peace (DREP) Centre, Jos, organised the peace commitment.
The candidates signed the commitment while party chairmen and security chiefs observed.
Plateau Commissioner of Police Batholomew Onyeka said that in every contest there must be a winner and a loser.
Onyeka said “God does not answer everybody at the same time, adding that at any giving time, God would pick one person.
“If you are not victorious and not satisfied with the outcome of the election, peacefully seek redress in court.
“The security agencies are fully prepared to ensure that the Jos North/ Bassa and Pankshin election will be conducted peacefully.
“As candidates, take action and let the people know what is right.
Tell them not to take laws into their hands, let us join hands and ensure that the elections are free and fair”.
Onyeka urged the candidates and their followers to learn from former President Goodluck Jonathan, who said that his ambition does not worth shedding the blood of any Nigerian.
“We should also learn from President Muhammadu Buhari who contested elections several times before he won.
“Buhari conducted himself peacefully while he was contesting without winning, let us learn from the leaders who love peace,” he said.
Prof. Abdullahi Zuru, INEC National Commissioner in charge of the by-elections, urged security agencies to secure the electoral environment and to protect the integrity of the process.
Zuru said that 11 political parties, 19 candidates were contesting in the Feb. 26 by-elections.
The national commissioner said that since the commission released the timetable and schedule of activities for the election, INEC had dutifully implemented all the activities on schedule.
He said that what was left was only the distribution of sensitive materials which would be done immediately after the peace dialogue and election day activities.
“After the expiration of the period for substitution and withdrawal of candidates as provided by law, the commission published the final list of 19 candidates sponsored by 11 political parties for both constituencies.
“We have 11 candidates contesting for the Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency seat and eight candidates for the Pankshin State Constituency seat.
“Details of the candidates by political parties, gender, age and educational qualifications have already been uploaded to our website for public information.
“Moreover, in line with Section 10 (5) of the Electoral Act 2010 (As amended), the 2019 Register of Voter will be used for the By-Elections,’’ he said.
Zuru said that 652,581 registered voters would cast their votes in 681 polling units consisting of 1,318 voting points.
“In Jos North, we have 453,556 voters in 474 polling units consisting of 913 voting points and in Bassa, we have 145,904 voters in 145 polling units, consisting of 296 voting points.
“In Pankshin, we have 53,121 voters in 62 polling units consisting of 109 voting points,” he said.
The Executive Director of DREP, Rev. Fr. Blaise Agwom, said that the meeting became necessary because of the ugly events associated with the elections.
Agwom said “we need to strengthen institutions that will promote free, fair and credible elections,” he said. (NAN)
