Governorship candidates of the various political parties in Bayelsa State on Wednesday signed a peace accord to ensure peaceful and credible elections in the forthcoming governorship elections billed for December 5.

The signing of the peace pact initiated by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in collaboration with United Nations Development Program, UNDP, also had heads of security agencies, traditional and religious leaders in attendance.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Baritor Kpagi, said that information available to INEC raised raised over high number of cloned card in circulation in the state, but insisted that those cards would be verified by the smart card reader.

In her speech, the INEC National Commissioner representing the North West Zone, Amina Zakari, explained that election is a good experience, especially when it is devoid of violence.

The Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police, Nasiru Oki, also advised aspirants to take the message of the peace accord back to their supporters.

The flagbearer of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Timipre Sylva, reiterated his commitment to abide by the term of agreement, as stipulated in the peace document.

The incumbent governor, Seriake Dickson, also advocated stringent punishment for electoral offenders.

The United States on Tuesday had warned against any attempt to foment violence before, during and after the Kogi and Bayelsa States governorship elections.

In a statement through its embassy in Nigeria in Abuja, Washington urged Nigerians to refrain from any action capable of upsetting the peace of the nation or the two states involved in the exercise.