From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has urged politicians in the state to eschew thuggery and play by the rules as the country and state head into 2023 general elections.
Ikpeazu made the charge at the Abia Police Command Officer’s Mess in Umuahia, during the signing of peace accord organized by the police for politicians in the state.
The governor who commended the Police Commissioner for organizing the meeting to ensure there was harmony and cohesion among all the political parties in Abia State ahead of the 2023 general elections in the state, said the signing of the peace accord would go further to enhance the peace that is witnessed in Abia in the past seven years.
The governor who was represented by the Commissioner for Documentation and Strategic Communication, Mr. Ugochukwu Emezue said “Abia has remained peaceful and a place where everybody is going about his business without any hindrance.
“If you also look back in the past elections that we have had in this state, Abia has remained one of the best in terms of ensuring that there is peace.
“I believes that political parties must play by the rules, because if we don’t play by the rules, the security agencies will do their job”.
He charged Abians to pick up their PVCs which he said was their power to choose who becomes their representatives in an election year.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mustapha Bala, had earlier charged stakeholders and political party candidates to adopt a level play ground and carry out their political activities peacefully.
Bala who expressed worry over the destruction of bill boards and posters of political opponents, urged politicians to engage in political activities that is devoid of hate speech.
According to him, it is expected that the candidates of political parties and their supporters should play politics that is within the ambits of the law guiding conduct of elections in the country.
He was optimistic that Nigeria shall achieve free, fair and credible elections in 2023.
He charged the Divisional Police Officers to replicate the accord for House of Assembly candidates in their respective areas of authority.