It was supposed to be a peace meeting to douse the tension hitting the rooftop among all the Ondo Guber candidates and their supporters, but Governor Rotimi Akeredolu and his estranged Deputy, Agboola Ajayi carried on with their no-love-lost relationship, Tuesday.
A mild drama happened after candidates had sign the peace accord facilated by the National Peace Committee (NPC) as candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Akeredolu declined a request by the Master of Ceremonies for him to either shake hands, touch elbows, or embrace his Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) opponent, Ajayi.
Akeredolu simply opted to wave at Ajayi. However, they both exchanged pleasantries with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Eyitayo Jegede, by touching his elbow as requested by the MC.
Meanwhile, the three main contestants, Akeredolu, Jegede and Ajayi promised to abide by the terms of the accord, as well as eschew utterances and conducts that would encourage violence before, during, and after the elections.
The Chairman, NPC, and former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, who spoke via zoom, urged all stakeholders to commit to the spirit of the accord.
He said, “The governorship election in Ondo State is only a few days away and we want peace during and after the election. We want to see Nigeria as a place, where people come out peacefully and vote during the election without deprivation, and Ondo State deserves this.”
The signing was witnessed by National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof. Yakubu Mahmood; Sultan of Sokoto Abukabar Saa’d; Bishop of Sokoto Diocese Hassan Kukah; former Bishop of Abuja Diocese John Onaiyekan and traditional rulers, among others.
