By Obi Blessing, Abuja
As the Edo State governorship election on September 21 approaches, Ezenwa Nwagu, the Executive Director of Peering Advocacy and Advancement Center in Africa (PAACA), has encouraged voters to reject fear-driven narratives circulated by some political figures.
Nwagu’s statement made available to journalists in Abuja, follows concerns about the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) declining to sign the peace accord ahead of the election. He characterized the anxiety surrounding the PDP’s decision as a “partisan tactic” intended to incite unnecessary fear, diverting attention from important electoral issues and discouraging citizens from participating in the democratic process.
“The peace accord is merely a voluntary commitment to ensure peaceful conduct among parties,” Nwagu explained. “It’s not a legal requirement, and its absence doesn’t imply a breakdown of law and order,” he added.
Nwagu further stressed that security agencies, including the police, are constitutionally obligated to ensure peace and security during the election, regardless of the peace accord.
“Our electoral system is governed by the Constitution and the Electoral Act, not by any non-binding agreements,” Nwagu stated.
He continued, “The police, alongside other security agencies, must deploy the necessary resources to prevent violence and guarantee the smooth conduct of the election. Any failure in this regard would not be due to the absence of a peace accord, but rather a failure to fulfill their lawful responsibilities.”
Nwagu called on the police, civil society groups, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reassure the public of a peaceful election, despite political distractions concerning the peace accord.
“Citizens should remain confident in the electoral system and not allow political rhetoric to dampen their willingness to vote,” he emphasized.
He concluded by underlining that the ultimate responsibility for a peaceful election rests with law enforcement and security agencies, who must be held accountable for maintaining order.
