By-elections: Tension In Edo As Four Political Parties Snub Peace Accord

By Idahosa Musa

Tension seems to be brewing ahead of weekend’s by-election in Edo State as four political parties on Thursday refused to sign a Peace Accord organized by the State Police Command to ensure a violence-free poll

Out of the nine political parties contesting the by-election, five parties — the APC, ADC, ANPP, AA, and PDP — were present to sign the peace agreement, held at the Command’s Headquarters in Benin.

The ceremony took place in the presence of heads of various sister security agencies, including the NDLEA, DSS, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigerian Army, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and Nigerian Correctional Service.

The Edo State Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, reiterated the Command’s commitment to protecting the electoral process and issued a strong warning against any attempts to disrupt the peace.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner for Edo State, Professor Anugbum Onuaha, who also signed the peace pact, confirmed that all electoral materials have been dispatched and are in place for a smooth polling exercise on August 16, 2025.

The Chairman of the peace committee, the Iyase Of Benin, Chief Sam Igbe, represented by Chief Jackson Igbinovia, urged all stakeholders and voters to conduct themselves peacefully during the polls.