By Faith Awa Maji, Katsina
AHEAD of the 2023 general elections, 11 out of 13 gubernatorial candidates of the major political parties in the Katsina State race have today signed a peace accord.
Present at the peace accord are Dr. Dikko Umar Radda of APC, PDP Governorship Candidate, Sen. Yakubu Lado, represented by his running mate, Arc. Ahmed Musa Yar’Adua, Babangida Zakari Ibrahim of the Social Democratic Party (SDP); Abu Musawa Ibrahim of the Labour Party (LP) and Tukur Saude Ingawa of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) among others.
While Engr. Nura Khalil of the New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP, and People’s Redemption Party, PRP, Jafaar Jino Imrana were absent.
The candidates alongside various party’s Chairmen were at the peace accord, held at the Nigeria Police’ Officers Mess, Katsina as it witnessed by the representatives judiciary, the police, army, NSCDC, DSS, INEC, CSOs, and journalists
Earlier, the Katsina State acting Commissioner of Police and Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Admin, Shettima Muhammad Durtu, challenged them to act according to the rule devoid of violence that will hampered the peace of the society.
He said “as the name implies, it is a forum where all political actors of the State especially the gubernatorial candidates come together and say to one another let’s play politics without bitterness. Let us come out with one voice and say no to political
violence/thuggery, hate speeches, vote buying and other sharp election malpractices.
“It is a peace agreement which is binding on all of us to ensure a free, fair and peaceful 2023 General Elections. Peace pacts or agreements by candidates of political parties have been a veritable instrument used in shaping the conduct of political parties and their candidates across the globe and Nigeria inclusive.
“We have witnessed the importance and impact of the 2015 Abuja, Peace Accord, on the 2015 General Elections, which saw for the first time in the history of this country, a peaceful transition where a ruling party handed over power peacefully to an opposition party. The Same was achieved in the 2019 General Elections where
elections were conducted peacefully without any hitch throughout the country.
“Katsina State as the name implies “Home of Peace and Heritage” – “Dakin Kara”,
should be a pace setter for other states to emulate. Let’s play politics with decorum and eschew bitterness. It is our home we shall salvage it together. The essence of this gathering is to promote peace and mutual coexistence among one another despite political differences”, according to Shettima Mohammed.
On his part, the candidate for the ruling All Progressives Congress, Dr. Dikko Umar Radda said he can only accept defeat if it were done based on free and fair election while that of SDP, Babangida Zakari Ibrahim said the peace accord implies all candidates will accept anyone who eventually wins the race.
Source: Nigerian Pilot