Ten candidates for 2023 governorship election in Rivers state on Friday shunned the peace agreement signing meeting called by the Rivers Peace Initiative.
Siminialaye Fubara of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dumo Lulu-Briggs (Accord Party), Ugo Beke (All Progressives Grand Alliance), Tonte Ibraye(African Democratic Congress), Ekwu Innocent(Allied Peoples Movement), Sam Agwor(New Nigeria Peoples Party), Sobomabo Jackrich(National Rescue Movement), Emiyarei Etete-Sobere(Peoples Redemption Party), Danagogo Wenike Briggs (Young Progressives Party), Lessi Gborobosi (Action Peoples Party) were all absent at the signing held at the Atrium Event centre in Port Harcourt.
Those present were, Tonye Cole (All Progressives Congress), Dawari George (Action Alliance), Magnus Abe (Social Democratic Party), Victor Fingesi (Action Democratic Party), Beatrice Itubo (Labour Party) and Joseph Obele (African Action Congress)
Converner of the Rivers Peace meeting, Obinna Ebogidi, said the initiative was to commit the candidates to conduct peaceful campaigns and elections.
In his speech at the occasion, the ADP guber candidate, Victor Fingesi, wondered why some candidates would stay away from such a crucial meeting put together to ensure a violence- free polls in the oil-rich state..
The six candidates who signed the agreement, promised to uphold peace and refrain from making defamatory statement about their fellow candidates, stakeholders and citizens or take any action that will lead to verbal or physical attack on the people throughout the whole electioneering processes.
Furthermore, they pledged to play their roles to a peaceful process before, during and after the election and called on their followers to also tow the line of peace which is for the good of all in Rivers state, Nigeria and world at large.
The candidates promised to abide by all the rules guiding the electoral process in Nigeria.
The signing of pledge of Peace was witnessed by representatives from INEC; IPAC, NUJ , security agencies, religious bodies and other stakeholders.
