The flagbearers of all political parties contesting in the forthcoming June 20 governorship election in Ekiti State on Thursday signed a peace accord to ensure a free and credible election.
The candidates include the gubernatorial candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), Biodun Oyebanji, candidates of African Democratic Congress (ADC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Accord party and nine other political parties participating in the election.
The peace accord organised by the National Peace Committee (NPC) in Ado-Ekiti secured commitments from political parties and governorship candidates contesting the 2026 Ekiti State off-cycle governorship election to conduct peaceful campaigns and shun violence ahead of the poll.
In his address, the National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, said the peace accord was a critical mechanism aimed at ensuring peaceful electoral conduct, noting that the commission intended to replicate the success recorded during the November 2025 Anambra governorship election.
According to him, the accord was not a mere bureaucratic document but an essential framework for sustaining peace and stability before, during and after the election.
Amupitan reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to credible and peaceful elections, urging candidates to transmit the message of peace to their supporters and political structures across the state.
Amupitan charged political actors to make the election a model for democratic maturity ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He also disclosed that the commission had concluded arrangements for extensive deployment across the state’s electoral areas, including the 16 local government areas, 177 wards, and 2,445 polling units.
His words, “As we did in the November 2025 gubernatorial election in Anambra, we are going to replicate this vital mechanism for the Ekiti State election.
“This is necessary for the safety of the streets, as political parties and their supporters engage in campaigns and political activities. This document is not a mere bureaucratic document; it is essential for peace.
“As we are holding the pen today to sign, I urge the candidates to step down the peace message to their political structures.
“Let this election serve as a masterclass for democratic maturity. Let it be a good reflection of what we are expecting in the next 2027 general election.
“Democracy thrives when peace prevails. I urge the political parties to adhere to the principles of this peace accord. Let it be remembered for the spirit of unity”.
Also speaking at the event, Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Tunji Disu said the peace accord underscored the importance of peaceful political engagement and would help deepen public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process.
He commended the leadership and Chairman of the National Peace Committee, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.), for his continued commitment to democratic stability and peacebuilding in the country.
The IGP assured political parties, candidates and residents of Ekiti State that the Nigeria Police Force, in collaboration with other security agencies under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, had put in place adequate security measures for the election.
According to him, comprehensive deployment plans had already been concluded for all local government areas and the more than 2,400 polling units across the state.
Disu stressed that security operatives would remain professional, impartial and fully committed to protecting democratic values throughout the electoral process.
He also urged residents of Ekiti State to come out peacefully on election day and exercise their constitutional rights without fear of intimidation.
“The signing of this peace accord is a strong reminder that elections should be contests of ideas and service, not conflict and division.
“Democracy thrives best in an atmosphere of peace, tolerance, mutual respect, and adherence to the rule of law.
“Security personnel and operational assets will be strategically deployed to guarantee the safety of voters, electoral officers, election observers, and all citizens participating in the democratic process.
“Our personnel have been adequately briefed on their responsibilities and rules of engagement, and will discharge their duties with civility, firmness, and respect for the rights of all citizens.
“I therefore call on all parties to uphold the spirit and letter of this peace accord by conducting their activities peacefully and placing the interests of democracy and peace above personal ambitions”.
Speaking on behalf of the contestants, the Governor of Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji promised to co-exist peacefully with other contestants in order to ascertain peaceful and credible gubernatorial election, saying
“I stand to represent the people and government of Ekiti State to make a firm commitment to peace before, during and after the 2026 governorship election.
“Our party has concluded a tour of the 16 local governments in Ekiti State and it was violence-free.
“Ekiti State will be 30 years old on October 1st this year. This is the first time in the history of the state that an election will be a few days away and you have this kind of peace.
“So, I stand to reiterate and make a commitment that after signing this Peace Accord and like the Chairman said, it is not the signing that is important, but the character of those holding the pen and I believe strongly in that.
“And I cannot but state that fellow contestants will do everything to ensure that if we truly want to serve the people, we cannot unleash violence before and after the elections.
“So, I stand to make a commitment on behalf of the government that I’m leading, and other contestants, that the election will be peaceful because it is only in an atmosphere of peace that you can actually serve the people.
“I commend the NPC for doing this and I hope that other stakeholders will also align themselves to the spirit and to the letter of the accord that has been signed”. He added
The NPC Convener, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah urged the electorate to prioritise their lives rather than engaging in violence, saying a peaceful election is what the country needs to sustain democracy.
