As the September 21 governorship election in Edo State draws near, Ezenwa Nwagwu, Executive Director of Peering Advocacy and Advancement Center in Africa (PAACA), has urged voters not to succumb to fear-mongering tactics by politicians.
Nwagwu made the call in response to concerns raised over the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) refusal to sign the peace accord.
He described the fear-mongering surrounding the PDP’s refusal as a “partisan tactic” aimed at creating an atmosphere of fear, discouraging citizens from exercising their democratic rights, and shifting attention away from real issues.
“The peace accord is not a legally binding document, but a persuasive initiative to promote peaceful conduct among political parties,” Nwagwu explained.
“Its absence does not equate to lawlessness or violence,” he added.
He said the police and security agencies have a constitutional duty to maintain law and order during the election, regardless of whether a political party signs the peace accord.
“The electoral process in Nigeria is governed by the Constitution and the Electoral Act, not by moral agreements,” Nwagwu said.
He said further, “The police, working in collaboration with other security agencies, must therefore deploy adequate personnel and resources to prevent violence and ensure that the election proceeds smoothly. Any failure in this regard would not be because of the absence of a peace accord but due to a lack of commitment to fulfilling their lawful obligations.
Nwagwu called on the police, civil society, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reassure the public that the election will be peaceful, despite the political noise surrounding the peace accord.
“Citizens must remain confident in the electoral system and refuse to be intimidated by political narratives designed to suppress voter turnout,” he said.
He stressed that the responsibility to ensure a peaceful election lies with the police and security agencies, and they must be held accountable for their role in maintaining peace and order.
