By Jimitota Onoyume

PORT HARCOURT— United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr James Entwistle, yesterday, rallied the three major political parties in Rivers State to sign a peace deal ahead of the February elections.

The deal, which is to promote peace and ensure a non- violent election, was part of moves to ensure that the state was violence free during the polls.

The governorship candidates who signed the peace accord for their parties were Mr Nyesom Wike for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP; Dr Dakuku Peterside for the All Progressive Congress, APC and Tonye Princewill for Labour Party.

Entwistle, enjoined the signatories to preach peace to their followers, stressing that all efforts should be made to achieve a violent free election period.

“Rivers State and Nigeria in particular are very important to the world. The desire of the international community is to see a peaceful, violence free election next month.”