Bishop Matthew Hassan-Kukah, the Convener of the National Peace Committee and Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, has called on the people of Edo State to prioritize peace and safety as they prepare to vote in the upcoming governorship election on September 21. Speaking at Channels Television’s Edo Election Security Townhall, he urged citizens to “vote to stay alive,” highlighting the potential for violence that could compromise the electoral process.

“Our hope and prayer is that democracy will continue to offer us the opportunities that it has promised and that Nigerians will sign on to a peaceful country, democratic process,” Bishop Kukah emphasized. He commended electoral officials and security operatives for their efforts to protect democracy, urging Nigerians to support them in their duties.

Despite advocating for peaceful elections, Bishop Kukah expressed concern about the refusal of some political parties and candidates to sign the Peace Accord, which aims to curb electoral violence. The town hall, organized by Channels Television in partnership with the Kimpact Development Initiative and the UK International Development, highlighted that while 17 political parties, including the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Labour Party (LP), are participating in the election, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) declined to sign the Peace Accord, citing issues with the police.

Bishop Kukah clarified that the National Peace Committee’s peace pact is based on moral grounds rather than legal enforcement. “The National Peace Committee, what we do is not in the Electoral Act, it’s not law; it’s moral. You can’t compel people to fall in love or love their neighbour,” he explained. Referring to past elections where key figures like President Bola Tinubu and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar initially refused to sign the Peace Accord, he noted that while such actions might send a negative message, they do not have legal consequences.