Pascal Arogorn Ibe
Governor Rotimi Akeredolu says the forthcoming October 10 governorship election will be the last election he will contest in Ondo State .
Akeredolu, who is seeking reelection on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, stated this on Tuesday in Akure , the state capital, while signing a peace accord alongside the candidates of other parties in the election .
The Independent National Electoral Commission said the pact was to ensure a violence-free election .
Addressing the National Peace Committee and his contenders , the governor said , “ This won ’ t be our first election , at least for me. This will be the third time around that I will be contesting in the state. And this will be the third and last time that I will be contesting an election in Ondo State .
“ We went through elections in the last two occasions, all of us operating as brothers. I cannot recollect any violence in those two elections .
But if we have one or two issues here and there , it is not to say that Ondo people are violent . Ondo State people, maybe learning from experience, have refused to be involved in violence. Elections here have always been peaceful .
“ I can assure you that the election slated for Saturday will be peaceful for as long as our security agencies are there . Our people are not the one that can confront civil defence talkless of the police or soldiers. Ondo State people are peace – loving people.
“ I will also still address the people on the need to avoid violence. A number of us who are contesting in the election talk to each other because we are colleagues . ”
Akeredolu has the Peoples Democratic Party candidate , Eyitayo Jegede ; his estranged deputy and Zenith Labour Party candidate , Agboola Ajayi , as major contenders in Saturday’ s poll.
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