The Zamfara State Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) has organized a session for signing of peace Accord by political parties in the state ahead of the 2023 general elections.
Chairman of the ICCES and commissioner of Police, Zamfara State Police Command CP Kolo Yusuf who chaired the session said the meeting was aimed at stimulating healthy interaction and mutual discussion on matters relating to the security and overall conduct of the February, 2023 General Election.
He explained that, the ICCES is an adhoc committee of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Made up of the various security agencies to ensure free, fair and credible election.
During the session which was attended by all the eighteen registered political parties CP Kolo said, the committee is the clearingHouse on election security matters engendered by the need to pull security assets together for efficient and effective deployment and management during the forthcoming elections.
Kolo assured the political parties of the committee’s commitment and determination to create a conducive atmosphere for free, fair, credible and non-violence election, saying they will ensure a transparent robust security platform to Police the 3529 polling Units in the 147 wards of the 14 local government areas of the state.
He reiterated that quasi-security outfits during campaigns the/rallies and other electoral processes are banned, similarly Kolo warned that use of firearms and other offensive weapons remained prohibited, as infractions will obviously be visited with consequences.
“Let me assure you on behalf of my colleagues that we shall remain neutral, fair to all and firm on matters that deviate from the rules of the game and receptive to genuine complaints” CP said
On his part, the resident electoral commissioner, Professor Saeed Babura Ahmad said peaceful, free, fair and credible election will enable Nigeria to a raise its Heights among other nations, he therefore appealed to all political parties to give maximum support and corporation to INEC, security and other stakeholders to ensure success.
All the political parties and their Governorship candidates/representatives have signed the accord and vowed to abide by its provisions
Shortly after the session, Leaders of some of the political parties spoke to SMARTS NEWS on the signing of the peace Accord;
Chairman of the Zamfara state Chapter of the All Progressives Congress APC, Hon Tukur Umar Danfulani has assured that the party in the state is strongly behind any well-meaning peace accord leading to a peaceful transition ahead of the 2023 general elections.
“The APC as a ruling political party in the state initiated an internal mechanism in which all aggrieved members and other actors and their thousands of supporters were brought under one roof as a family and made the party stronger in the state to the envy of the opposition”. He stated
On his part, Vice Chairman, People ‘s Democratic Party, PDP, Zamfara State Chapter Hon. Mukhtar Lugga said, their party is peace loving and law-abiding, he therefore appealed to the state government to give them enabling environment to conduct their political activities without any hindrance.
“We begged the APC led state government to allow us to open campaign Offices, erect Billboards/Posters and campaign without any hindrance ” Lugga said
While the Governorship candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP, Professor Kabir Umar Jabaka called on security agencies to be sincere and just in the discharge of their duties, saying any one found wanting violating the peace Accord should be made to face full wrath of the law
“NNPP is peace loving party, therefore we will respect the agreement” Prof Jabaka said
