2015 Elections | 3 Political Parties &Their Guber Candidates Sign PeacePact In Benue State.

Three political parties, the All Progressives Congress, Labour Party and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, have signed an undertaking to maintain peace before, during and after the 2015 general elections in Benue State.

Those who signed included PDP deputy governorship Candidate Mr John Ngbede,APC's Chief Samuel Ortom,and LP candidate Dr Mannasseh Ligom,others are PDP state secretary Bem Dzoho,and Vincent Uji APC chairman zone A who signed for their parties.

The event took place at the Police officers mess in the presence of the Commissioner of Police Mr Hyacinth Dagala. And INEC REC Mr Dafwang Istifanus.

The commissioner in his brief address stated that the meeting became necessary due pre electoral violence in the state where supporters are destroying campaign properties of political parties,he prescribed  urgent  measures to be taken to curb the violence going on.

Dagala noted that peaceful coexistence was imperative for development and urged political leaders to preach peace to their followers and ensure that they conduct themselves peacefully at all times.
Mr Dagala assured that the law enforcement agencies would deploy all resources to maintain peaceful, free, and transparent elections in the state.

In his presentation at the meeting Benue State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Professor Istafanus Dafwang listed what he described as monetization of political offices and the electoral process, greed, as well as a do or die attitude as causes of electoral violence which result in death, injuries and destruction of property. 
He recommended reduction in salaries, allowances and pecks of political offices, prosecution of electoral offenders as well as civic and voter education as the solution. 

Professor Dafwang pledged INEC's commitment to conducting credible, peaceful, and transparent elections and justified the use of card readers which he described as anti - rigging machine. 
Those who spoke including all the candidates commended the peace initiative and pledged support for it.

The event was organized by the interagency consultative committee.