Politics
By Kennedy Nnamani
THE candidates of the 18 political parties in Nigeria have signed a peace accord to abide by the outcome of the February 25, presidential elections.
Realnews reports that the presidential candidates, who signed the pact on Wednesday, February 22, include Peter Obi of the Labour Party, Bola Tinubu of All Progressives Congress, APC, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Rabiu Kwankwaso of New Nigerian Peoples Party, NNPP, and Omoyele Sowore of African Action Congress, AAC, among others.
Members of the peace committee such as General Abdulsalami Abubakar, former head of State of Nigeria, Bishop Matthew Kukah of Sokoto Diocese, and John Momoh, chairman of Channels Television, witnessed the event.
Other prominent people who attended include General Yakubu Gowon, former head of State, Usman Alkali Baba, inspector general of police, IGP, and Thabo Mbeki, former president of South Africa, who leads the Commonwealth Election Observer Group to Nigeria.
At the event, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, INEC Chairman, noted that the commission is ready for the election on Saturday assuring Nigerians of a transparent exercise.
The IGP, in his remarks, decried the lack of compliance with the spirit of the September peace accord, which committed the candidates to issue-based campaigns.
Baba appealed to political parties to rein in their supporters to ensure that the election is peaceful.
He also urged the candidates to emulate former President Goodluck Jonathan, who accepted the outcome of the 2015 elections which helped keep the country’s peace.
In her remarks, Samuela Isopi, European Union, EU, ambassador to Nigeria, urged Nigeria to lead by example and send a strong message to the world about consolidating democracy.
She called on all candidates to accept the results of the elections and seek legal redress if dissatisfied.
Baroness Scotland, secretary general of the Commonwealth, underscored the importance of the 2023 general elections, stressing the significant position Nigeria occupies on the continent.
You may recall that unlike elections prior to 2015 when the National Peace Committee came into existence, presidential candidates for the 2023 polls are made to sign the Peace Accord twice.
The first one was signed in September last year, prior to the commencement of Campaigns. That accord was signed to oblige the candidates to a peaceful Campaign.
-With report from Channels
KN
Tags: Atiku Abubakar Bola Tinubu Dan Nwanyanwu John Momoh Kennedy Nnamani Rabiu Kwankwaso
