Thirty seven Governorship Candidates in Akwa Ibom last Wednesday signed peace accord to ensure peaceful conduct of the forthcoming election in the state.
The Tide reports that the event was organised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for candidates seeking elective positions in the general election in the state.
INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Mr Mike Igini, said during the event in Uyo, that the accord would help the commission to conduct free, fair, credible and non-violent election.
He said the spirit of the accord should reflect in the lives of politicians and candidates in the state.
“For us it is a great one to have all candidates and political parties signing the peace accord.
“The fact that we are talking of peace accord, is indicative of the kind of people that we have,” he said.
Igini said the commission would stand tall and mighty to defend democracy and rule of law, adding that democracy cannot be completed without rule of law.
According to him, election period is not a period that people will be talking about violence.
Igini noted that the commission would not use incidence form during the general election in the state.
He said accreditation of voters would be done with card reader machines and voters’ register.
Igini advised political parties and candidates to nominate agents that would assist in the election procedure as set out by the Electoral Act and INEC.
He reminded voters that the commission had banned the use of mobile phones within polling units to check vote buying.