Labaran Maku, the Nasarawa State Governorship Candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), on Friday signed the peace pact ahead of the forthcoming general elections.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the peace pact is an initiative of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for political parties and their candidates to ensure hitch-free elections.
Speaking after signing the pact in Lafia, Maku promised to be committed to ensuring issue-based campaigns devoid of hate speech that could lead to violence.
“God has been faithful to me and has lifted me up to a minister, so, I cannot engineer crisis because the progress and development of the country are dear to me.
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“I do not want any life to be lost on the account of my ambition to be governor of Nasarawa State.
“If I’m not alive, I cannot contest for any position, so I want my supporters to be alive so that if I win, I will better their lives and develop the state,” Maku added.
The former Information Minister urged INEC to maintain high level of neutrality as a step to curtailing post election violence.
He said that historically, passive lack of neutrality by the electoral empire was responsible for most of the post election violence.
“The annulment of 1993 presidential election in the country and other cases are clear examples of lack of neutrality by the electoral empire.
“Even in Nasarawa State, election results were manipulated by the electoral empire. So, as we politicians commit ourselves to do things that will ensure peace, INEC needs to also do their part,” Maku said.
Responding, Uthma Ajedagba, the Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC in the state, expressed gratitude to the candidate and his party for signing the pact.
He said that the commission would resist any pressure from politicians to influence the outcome of elections in the state.
Ajedagba assured all political parties that the commission would continue to create a level playing field and conduct elections that would be better than all previous elections. (NAN)
