Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and other stakeholders have raised alarms over the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s refusal to sign a peace accord ahead of the upcoming Edo State governorship election on September 21, 2024.
Governor Godwin Obaseki, the PDP leader in Edo, announced on Wednesday that the party would not participate in the peace agreement, accusing the police of favoring the All Progressives Congress (APC). This decision has caused concern among CSOs, who fear political unrest may follow as a result of tensions between political actors.
Yiaga Africa, the Transition Monitoring Group (TMG), Transparency International (TI), and the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) voiced concerns over the behavior of political parties and their supporters, warning it could negatively impact the election. Samson Itodo, Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, called the PDP’s refusal to sign the peace agreement troubling, noting it reflects the tense political atmosphere in the state.
“It sends a significant message, but it’s also a missed opportunity. The peace accord is not just about security agencies but also about using lawful means to express grievances,” Itodo explained.
Awwal Musa Rafsanjani urged politicians to conduct themselves peacefully and stated that anyone causing unrest should be held accountable. “We must encourage voters not to be used for violence, and those responsible for trouble must be held accountable,” Rafsanjani said.
The APC and other political parties have signed the peace agreement initiated by the National Peace Accord Committee (NPAC), led by former military Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd). However, PDP gubernatorial candidate Asue Ighodalo and state party chairman Tony Aizegbemi refused to sign, citing police bias against the PDP.
Governor Obaseki raised concerns earlier this week, accusing the police of arresting PDP members while ignoring alleged infractions by APC supporters. At the signing event, General Abubakar responded that the PDP still has the chance to sign the accord by visiting Abuja.
Meanwhile, a protest group, Edo Women for Peaceful and Credible Elections, accused the police of partisanship, particularly in the arrest of PDP members in the state. Women protested at the peace accord venue, demanding the immediate release of detained PDP members and calling for the redeployment of the state’s Commissioner of Police.
PDP has issued conditions for signing the peace accord, including the release of detained party members or their proper arraignment in court and the redeployment of the state’s Commissioner of Police, Nemo Edwin-Iwo. They have also raised concerns about the impartiality of the state’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Resident Electoral Commissioner, alleging ties to the APC.
In contrast, Labour Party (LP) candidate Olumide Akpata, backed by Abia State Governor Alex Otti, received strong support from voters, including the large Igbo community in Edo, as he urged vigilance in the upcoming election.
Journalists have been urged to adopt conflict-sensitive reporting practices to avoid heightening tensions ahead of the election, as discussed in a webinar organized by CAPPA and the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) Programme.
