Justin Tyopuusu, Jalingo

Taraba State Governor/governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Darius Ishaku; ex-Minister of Women Affairs/candidate of United Democratic Party, Hajiya Aisha Alhassan; and All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, Sani Danladi,  on Thursday failed to show up at a peace accord signing ceremony.

The signing of the peace accord took place at the Taraba State Police Command headquarters in Jalingo.

Though the three top governorship contenders were absent at the occasion, 14 other governorship candidates, including Mr. Kefas Sule of the All Blending Party (ABP), signed the peace pact.

Taraba State Commissioner of Police, Mr. David Akinremi, who presided over the signing of the peace accord, said the aim was to commit the governorship candidates to peaceful conduct of the election.

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“We cannot, as a nation, move forward if we fail to promote peace. I want to appeal to you stakeholders to shun violence.

“If contesting election is for the sake of service, then there should be no need for violence before, during and after the election,” he said.

Akinremi pledged that the Police and other security agencies will give all parties equal protection before, during after the election, even as he urged the parties to conduct themselves well and avoid violence.

Resident Electoral Commissioner for Taraba State, Baba Yusuf, pledged INEC’s determination and commitment to giving all parties level playing ground.

Responding on behalf of the candidates, Mr. Kefas Sule of the ABP thanked the security agencies for the initiative and pledged the resolution of the candidates to stand by what they have signed.

Sule called on those who were absent at the signing to make efforts to sign the accord with a view to having a peaceful election in the state.

Our correspondent reports that Governor Darius Ishaku and Senator Aisha Alhassan sent representatives, but they were turned down, with the officials insisting that all candidates must sign in person.

The candidate of the APC, Sani Danladi, was not represented at the occasion.