Maku signs peace pact, tasks INEC on neutrality

Nasarawa State Governorship Candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Labaran Maku has signed peace pact ahead of the forthcoming general elections. The peace pact was initiative of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for parties and their candidates to ensure hitch free elections in the state. Speaking after signing the pact on Friday in Lafia, Maku promised to be committed to ensuring an issues-based campaign devoid of hate speech that would led to election violence. “God has been faithful to me and has lifted me up to a minister, so, I cannot engineer crisis because the progress and development of the country is dear to me. “I do not want any life to be lost on the account of my ambition to be governor of Nasarawa State. “If I’m not alive, I cannot contest for any position, so I want my supporters to be alive so that if I win, I will better their lives and develop the state,” Maku added. The former Information Minister also urged on their part to INEC to maintain high level of neutrality as a step to curtailing post election violence. He noted that, throughout the history, the passive lack of neutrality by the electoral empire was responsible for most of the post election violence. “The annulment of 1993 presidential election in the country and other cases were clear examples of lack of neutrality by the electoral empire. “Even in Nasarawa State, election results were manipulated by the electoral empire, so, as we politicians commit ourselves to do things that would ensure peace, INEC needs to also do their part,” Maku added. Responding, Uthma Ajedagba, Residents Electoral Commissioner of INEC in the state, expressed gratitude to the candidate and his party for signing the pact. He said that the commission would resist every pressure from politicians to influence the outcome of the election in the state. He therefore assured all political parties that the commission would continue to create a level playing field and conduct an election that would be better than all previous elections.