By Alpha Abu
Leaders of Political Parties taking part in the 24th June Elections are to make a Pledge of Peace, a week before polling, according to the Executive Secretary of the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion.
Madam Hawa Samai told a National Security Sector Coordinating Group meeting in Makeni that the prepared pledge would see the politicians committing themselves to accept the results of the elections.
She said other countries including Kenya have conducted similar confidence-building measures ahead of polling that have helped in maintaining peace.
She said the initiative which is jointly facilitated by the commission and the Security Sector is to enhance the open dialogue they have created with political parties, all geared towards having stable peaceful elections.
Madam Samai also briefed the meeting about the peace commission’s establishment of a Situation Room that is open to all, round the clock, and staffed by people who will answer callers in all the local languages.
She said the situation room with a toll-free line of 898 has been capacitated through support by the African Union (AU) and will remain functional after the elections to address other emerging issues.
National Security Coordinator, Abdulai Caulker who chaired the gathering stated that the situation room managed by the Office of National Security (ONS) which he heads will collaborate with the peace commission’s own centre as well as those of other institutions.
But he said they will have to put in place a well-structured system for the information going out which will be spearheaded by the ONS.
He used the occasion to explain their determination to enforce a ban preventing radio stations from announcing election results during the electioneering period.
He said the measure is to help stop such unauthorized announcements that could otherwise be a recipe for chaos. He said any radio station found flouting such regulation will face due process of the law.
He said the Independent Radio Network (IRN) comprising a chain of radio stations across the country, is the only information channel accredited to air news on the polls.
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