Former Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva
and Chairman, Silverbird Group, Mr. Ben
Murray-Bruce on Tuesday shunned Bayelsa
Peace Accord for political office contenders
in Yenagoa.

Sylva is the standard bearer for the All
Progressives Congress in Bayelsa East while
the entertainment guru, Murray-Bruce, is
flying the flag of the Peoples Democratic
Party for the same district.

Also, Bayelsa Central senatorial candidate for
Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Emmanuel
and his counterpart for Bayelsa West, Dr.
Foster Ogola, were also not at the peace
meeting organised by the Bayelsa State
Police Command.

However, many other contenders including
Speaker, Bayelsa House of Assembly, Mr.
Kombowei Benson attended the peace
accord presided over by the Assistant
Inspector General of Police, Zone 5, Mr. Musa
Daura.

Daura said the peace accord became
imperative as part of the measures to have
rancour-free general elections.

The AIG, who stressed the importance of
peace in the conduct of elections, said the
police were poised to ensure the coming
polls were free, credible and hitch-free.

He admonished the candidates to shun acts
capable of undermining the general
elections, before, during and after the polls.

He also solicited the cooperation of
stakeholders, saying there was no way only
the police could succeed in the task of
providing security without assistance from
Nigerians.

He said, “I wish to remind you that our
major concern is to stress the importance of
peace before, during and after the general
elections.

“Peace and stability is one of the major
concerns for the elections. The same peace
accord was signed by presidential
candidates for various political parties in
Abuja. The peace accord was directed by the
Inspector General of Police to ensure the
coming general elections are free, fair and
credible.

“I wish to remind all the candidates to
adhere to all existing laws and regulations
pertaining to the polls especially guidelines
by the Independent National Electoral
Commission, electoral acts and the 1999
Constitution as amended.”

Commissioner of Police, Bayelsa State, Mr.
Valentine Ntomchukwu, read the provisions
of the Peace Accord before calling on
individual candidate present at the meeting
to sign the document.

He said as the candidates had signed the
Peace Accord, they must ensure they adhere
strictly to its provisions in the interest of
peace.

Speaking on the propriety of the accord, APC
House of Representatives candidate for
Ekeremor/Sagbama Constituency, Mrs.
Rosemary Okieghazi, said the peace accord
was a step in the right direction.
“The police are the defenders of the people.
We expect them to uphold the law. They
must do this by protecting all candidates
equally. I have faith in the police,” she said.

In his comment, a candidate for PDP and
current member, BSHA, Tonye Isenah, said
he noticed that unregulated social media
campaign was not in the Peace Accord.

He said the accord was silent on social
media platform, where he claimed his
candidates were being attacked.
He expressed confidence in the police but
added that the military should also be
drafted to assist the police.

Source: www.punchng.com/news/sylva-murray-bruce-others-shun-bayelsa-peace-accord/

koikoi2:
I thought Timipre Sylver was whisked away by DSS?

alaoeri:
Hoping for divided votes in Bayelsa where APC will get significant amount.

rayopt:
Sylva for the job nawni