The Sultan of Sokoto, Abubakar Sa’ad, has urged contestants in the Saturday governorship election in Ondo State to see exercise as a mere game not do or die affair.
Abubakar said this during the signing of the peace accord by the governorship candidates participating in the election.
The peace pact was initiated by the National Peace Committee (NPC) under the leadership of former Head of State of Nigeria, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu; and those of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Eyitayo Jegede; the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) and Akeredolu’s Deputy, Agboola Ajayi; and 13 other candidates signed the Accord facilitated by the National Peace Committee.
While saying that that election was like a game played by many players on pitch, the Sultan called on all contestants “to shun any form of violence and thuggery so that the election could be free, fair and credible in the state like Edo State governorship election.
“I like to make it clear to all of us as a citizen of this country and for the players who are going to be on the pitch on Saturday to contest for one single seat of governor of Ondo State for the next four years.
“I like to call on you to see the signing of an accord this morning not just as a mere ceremony or formality but a commitment by all of you.
“Let all of us obey the rules of the game. I call it game because election is a game where they must be only one winner, and others who have not won, I won’t call them losers.
“There will only be one winner, and that winner has already been ordained by Almighty God before the vote is even cast. We don’t know who that person is.
“So, as a contestant, tell the citizens of Ondo State what you can’t do and what you will do for them, and their vote must count as INEC has assured us that every vote must count.
