THE Concerned Leadership of Political Party Chairmen in Osun State has called on all political stakeholders to embrace peaceful campaigns ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
The party chairmen also raised concerns over a proposed peace summit reportedly being organised by a group known as “The Democrat”.
In a communiqué issued on Friday and signed by Comrade Olalekan Enoch, the group, which comprises chairmen of political parties from the Action People’s Party, APP, Young Progressives Party, YPP, Peoples Redemption Party, PRP, and others, questioned the motives behind the planned summit.
The chairmen alleged that the organisers had excluded several major political parties and stakeholders from participation despite presenting the event as a peace-building initiative.
According to the communiqué, “the group believes the proposed summit lacks broad representation and therefore does not reflect the interests of all political actors in the state.
“Some political parties in the state under the name of ‘The Democrat’ have no genuine intention to organise an amorphous Peace Summit as stated in their release.”
The group also questioned why political parties with governorship candidates, including APP, YPP, PRP, Accord, APC and ADC, were allegedly not included in the initiative.
It also called on the Osun State Government and any sponsors of the proposed summit to exercise caution and seek clarification regarding the objectives and organisation of the event.
Despite its reservations about the summit, the group stressed the need for all political actors to prioritise peace as campaigning intensifies across the state.
“We appeal to all political stakeholders, party leaders, candidates, supporters and political gladiators to embrace peace and conduct their campaigns in a peaceful, orderly and responsible manner,” the communiqué stated.
The chairmen noted that elections should be contests of ideas and visions for development rather than activities capable of dividing communities or threatening public peace and stability.
They urged politicians and their supporters to avoid inflammatory remarks, hate speech, intimidation, harassment and all forms of violence that could undermine the democratic process.
The group also called on security agencies, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth groups and civil society organisations to continue supporting efforts aimed at ensuring peaceful, credible and orderly elections, adding that the peace, unity and progress of the state remain a collective responsibility.
On Tuesday, twelve chairmen of political parties in Osun State under the aegis of ‘The Democrat’ announced a plan to organise a Peace Summit ahead of the August 15 gubernatorial election.
The parties include the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, National Rescue Movement, NRM, Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Action Alliance, AC, Action Democratic Party, ADP, and Boot Party.
Others are the Labour Party, LP, Zenit Labour Party, ZLP, African Action Congress, AAC, Social Democratic Party, SDP, and the Allied Peoples Movement, APM.