Edo guber poll: Fear of bloodbath heightens as PDP boycotts Peace Accord, submits petition

● As General Abubakar, Yakubu, Egbetokun, APC, others sign Peace Accord

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has refused to sign the Peace Accord initiated by the National Peace Committee (NPC) led by former military Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd) for the political parties and gubernatorial candidates in the September 21, 2024 governorship election in Edo state.

The refusal to sign has raised the spectre of violence and potential bloodbath during the election that promises to be a grudge battle between and among political foes who have become desperate to take over the governance of the state.

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PDP candidate, Asue Ighodalo and Edo State Chairman, Dr Tony Aziegbemi refused to append their signatures in the document like the Chairmen and candidates of 17 other political parties contesting the Edo state governorship election.

Armed with a two-page petition, both Ighodalo and Aziegbemi approached the podium where the signing took place but refused to append their signatures when asked to do so by NPC Convener and Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Reverend Father Mathew Hassan Kukah.

Instead, PDP chieftains tried to hand him over the petition, which he politely declined and asked them to leave the podium where those who signed were standing for the ceremonial handshakes.

Speaking to journalists after returning to their seats without signing, PDP Chairman alleged that they did not sign the Peace Accord because their members were being harassed and detained by the law enforcement agencies both in Edo state and Abuja.