Anambra guber: Stakeholders sign pact to shun violence

Chairmen of political parties, members of civil society groups, and candidates in the November 16 Governorship election in Anambra State have tasked the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, to allow the will of the people prevail.
The stakeholders, who converged at the Women Development Centre in Awka for a sensitization workshop organized by the office of the Special Adviser to the President on Inter-Party Affairs, Senator Ben Ndi Obi said the INEC could only promise of credible polls in 2015 if it gets it right in Anambra.

The stakeholders, consisting of about 18 chairmen out of the 23 parties standing election in Anambra also appended their signatures to a 13-point communique issued at the end of the meeting with a pledge to eschew violence, malpractice and other misconduct capable of truncating the election.
Speaking earlier at the workshop, the chairman of the occasion, Gen Ike Nwachukwu said the mission of the workshop was to collectively ensure that the forthcoming gubernatorial election is peaceful, free, credible and successful.
Nwachukwu said the workshop was a neutral forum where candidates could interact freely and come to an understanding to ensure free and peaceful atmosphere before, during and after the election.

In his opening address, Senator Obi said the workshop had been adopted as a regular feature before elections in Nigeria, following an endorsement and an order by the president who was impressed with the ones done previously.
“We recorded huge success in July and September 2012 pre-election sensitization workshops organized in Edo and Ondo states respectively, of which acclamations from across the country still speak for us. It is in line with this that we are holding this event for the November 2013 Anambra gubernatorial elections.
“As an advocate of sanctity and the rule of law, we must accept that one person will win in the race, and two people can not occupy the position earmarked for one. This is a natural order that I enjoin all contestants and their followers to bear in mind always. They should educate their supporters to tow the line of peace and abide by it all the time”, he advised.
The chairman of INEC, Prof Atahiru Jega who was represented by a federal commissioner, Hajiya Amina Zakari said that it was the collective responsibiloity of the commission, voters, contestants, party agents, security officials to ensure that the process went on smoothly without rancor and violence.
The workshop was attended by National and state chairmen of political parties with their governoprship candidates and running mates, President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Enwo Igariwey, Chairman of National Election Debates Group, Aremu Taiwo Allimi, Dr Udenta Udenta, Minister of Aviationm Stella Oduah and Prof George Obiozor among others.