From John Bassey, Gusau
The Executive Governor of Zamfara State, Dr Dauda Lawal, the All Progressives Congress candidate, and other governorship candidates from other political parties have signed an agreement, administered by the Nigeria Police Force, Zamfara State Command, to conduct peaceful, credible, fair, and violence-free elections in 2027.
The agreement was signed at a peace accord and security summit organised by the Zamfara State Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmad Muhammad Bello, on Tuesday at the Taula Arena in Gusau, the state capital.
The Executive Governor, Dr Dauda Lawal, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to ensuring peace in the state and to continually advocating for peaceful conduct of elections in 2027.
Governor Lawal made his position known as a peace lover and a relentless advocate of peace in all the policies and programmes of his administration.
He urged all politicians in the state to shun violence and embrace peace in order to enhance free, credible and violence-free elections.
The Zamfara State Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmad Muhammad Bello, welcomed everyone to the 2026 signing of the peace accord and security summit, describing Zamfara as a state that is in dire need of peace and security, and a state that is more richly blessed than many countries of the world.
He emphasised that Zamfara is a state with 40 square meters and blessed with 27 discovered natural resources, that the insecurity experienced is a man-made phenomenon, created in order to hide under such an atmosphere to loot the wealth of the state selfishly. This culminates in the challenge of poverty in the state, which is directly associated with insecurity.
Insecurity, poverty and instability are present in all the countries of the earth and the press in some parts of those countries hides the narrative. It is high time the press in Zamfara State and Nigeria commenced controlling the narrative regarding the challenges faced within the state and the country in order to give a chance to democratic development, economic stability and good governance.
The Deputy Commissioner of Police, Operations, Abdul Randawa, said, “Your presence represents our collective commitment to promote peace, political tolerance, unity and responsible leadership in Zamfara State.”
“I therefore urge all political office holders to control inflammatory statements, intimidation and any conduct capable of disturbing public peace. I wish to assure you that Zamfara State Police Command, in collaboration with other sister security agencies, remains committed to providing adequate security, maintaining law and order, protecting life and property and ensuring that all lawful political activities are conducted in a free and fair atmosphere in accordance with the stipulations of the law.”
The peace accord signing ceremony should not be treated with levity because it represents the collective determination, commitment and conscience of all political parties and candidates to conduct peaceful campaigns, elections, responsible leadership, respect for the rule of law and resolution of electoral disputes through approved lawful channels.
He urged the teeming youths to eschew political violence and become ambassadors of peace, and urged stakeholders and civil society organisations to work together and ensure peaceful conduct of the 2027 general elections.
The state Chairman of the Zamfara State Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Alhaji Sahabi Isa, said peaceful elections bring about good governance, political stability, national development and peaceful transfer of power. They provide citizens with the right to choose their leaders without fear, intimidation or discrimination.
As Nigerians prepare for the 2027 general elections, it is worthy to note that credible, free and fair elections do not rest only on INEC but majorly on political parties, supporters, traditional leaders, religious leaders, the media, civil society organisations, the electorate and other stakeholders.
Other governorship candidates speaking at the ceremony were the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate Alhaji Dr Abdulmutalib M. Lawal Gusau and the Labour Party (LP) candidate Ahjia Asma’u Saminu, the only woman aspirant. They both commended the Nigeria Police Force for taking the direction of peace in the forthcoming 2027 general elections.
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