Eighteen political parties fielding candidates in the November 16 governorship election in Ondo State have committed to fostering peace and preventing electoral violence before, during and after the election.

The parties made the commitment on Friday when they signed a Peace Accord, facilitated by the National Peace Committee under the chairmanship of former Military Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar.

By virtue of the Peace Accord, the political parties are saying they would ensure a peaceful gubernatorial election and respect the election results, as long as the process is deemed free and fair.

At the ceremony, General Abubakar urged all candidates and their parties to adhere strictly to democratic principles, avoid vote trading, and maintain the country’s peace and stability.

In a goodwill message, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, acknowledged the peaceful atmosphere in Ondo ahead of the election.

He confirmed that no security incidents had been reported thus far and reassured citizens of INEC’s commitment to smooth operations on election day, pledging logistical improvements to facilitate a seamless voting experience.

The Inspector General of Police, who was represented by DIG Sylvester Abiodun, outlined security measures to ensure safety across the 18 local government areas of Ondo State. He said over 36,000 officers had been deployed to the state for the election, backed by other security agencies, bringing the total number of personnel to 43,157.

Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who praised the National Peace Committee’s efforts, vowed to abide by the terms of the accord and safeguard democracy. He encouraged other candidates to honour their commitments to peace, expressing confidence that the accord would sustain the peaceful atmosphere during and after the election.