Ahead of the 2023 general election, the Ogun state Labour Party governorship candidate, Kehinde Sogunle, has promised to embrace peace before, during and after the 2023 election.
The candidate made the pledge at the signing of a peace accord organised by the Ogun State Vote Not Fight on Saturday, October 29th at the party’s secretariat, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta
The Vote Not Fight Ogun Coordinator, Obasanjo Fajemirokun said the initiative was to commit the candidate to conduct peaceful campaigns and elections.
Obasanjo who highlighted the activities, aims and objectives of the campaign, said it is designed to increase the participation of youths, men, women and People with Disabilities (PWDs) in Nigeria’s political and electoral processes by promoting peaceful and constructive youth engagement with political stakeholders, electoral umpire and security agencies before, during, and after elections.
The Coordinator also hinted at the activities of the campaign, stressing the need to re-orientate the minds of the Nigerian youths to shun all forms of electoral violence in the forthcoming election.
“It was expedient to put the event together ahead of the 2023 elections in order to change the violence narratives often associated with election cycles.
Responding, Sogunle reinstated that his campaign is intellectually driven and has no reason come what may to indulge in violence throughout the whole electioneering process.
He charged the youth not to allow themselves to be used for political violence, while also appealing to the people of the state to live up to the ideals of integrity and honour to have a free, fair and credible election.
“It is imperative to call on everyone to work towards a peaceful election to ensure peace before, during and after the election.”
He, however, called on the electorate to cast their votes in the forthcoming election without fear of intimidation or coercion but rather with a sense of performing their civic duties and making decisions that will help ensure a sustainable future for themselves and the nation at large.
Also, the Gubernatorial Campaign Chairman for Kehinde Sogunle, Dr. Akinpelu Shogunle commended the team on their efforts towards de-escalating electoral violence before, during and after the 2023 general elections.
He charged the team to extend their advocacy to religious leaders, royal fathers, and other stakeholders in order to put a stop to electoral violence in the state.
Other members of the campaign team who witnessed the Peace Accord include Dr. Muideen Isiaka, Ustaz Lawal Jubril and Deborah Adewale.