…as Atiku, Tinubu, Obi, others commit to peaceful elections
President Muhammadu Buhari was, on Wednesday, joined by five former African heads of state to witness the historic signing of the National Peace Accord, ahead of Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly election.
Buhari was accompanied at the ceremony by former Nigerian Heads of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon and Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar; as well as former President of Malawi, Dr Joyce Banda, immediate past President of Kenya, Ohuru Kenyatta, and his former South African counterpart, Tabo Mbeki, who is also leader of the commonwealth observer mission to the election.
Organised by the National Peace Committee for Chairmen and Candidates of political parties participating in the presidential election, the Peace Accord, was also witnessed by members of the diplomatic corps and other dignitaries.
The accord, among other things, mandates candidates and political parties to accept the outcome of the election and accept full obligation of any subversion of local and international laws.
Meanwhile, presidential candidates of the 18 contesting political parties were present at the signing ceremony to commit to peaceful electioneering, including Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Peter of Obi of the Labour party and others.
Speaking at the ceremony in Abuja, president Buhari, said he was aware of the deep concerns about the conduct of the 2023 general elections and its outcomes, stressing that his administration has worked hard to ensure that it passes on a legacy of free, credible, safe and fair elections.
The president said his administration would continue to act in neutrality and allow the rule of law to take precedence over political expediency, adding that they would allow Nigerians to decide who should govern them.
“I want to assure INEC, security agencies and all relevant institutions saddled with the responsibility of conducting the elections of this administration, continuous support. I ask you to be firm and courageous to abide by the laws and the constitutional provisions in conducting the elections; we must constantly improve our electoral process using technology and all the elements which brings to consolidate the integrity of the elections.
“I urge the candidates contesting these elections at all levels, to respect the choice of voters and accept the results of the elections as announced by INEC, the agency empowered by law to do so. Any aggrieved candidate should resort to the establish judicial processes and we must have the confidence to trust our legal systems,” he said.
Also speaking, the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, reiterated the readiness of the commission to hold the lection Election on Saturday this week.
Yakubu disclosed that INEC, on Wednesday, commenced the movement of sensitive materials to the various Local Government Areas nationwide, adding that by Friday, it will activate the Registration Area Centres, RACs, so that at first light on Saturday, polling units will open on time.
“The Commission is committed to free, fair and credible elections in compliance with the electoral legal framework and the letter and spirit of the Peace Accord. All political parties and candidates are hereby reassured of the Commission’s neutrality. Above all, Nigerians should feel confident that their votes will count,” he said.
Earlier, the Chairman of the National Peace Committee, Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar, emphasised the need for all parties to stay committed to the second peace accord, as he observed that some of them flouted the first peace accord signed on 29 September, 2022.
“There was lack of compliance by the major political parties. Forty-four per cent of the violations were carried out by spokespersons of the political parties and 26 per cent by party members.
“Nineteen per cent of the violations were carried out by the presidential candidates themselves; 11 per cent by hard-core supporters and 4 per cent by party chairmen. Additionally, in January 2023, a lot of violence has occurred with at least 15 abductions and at least, 30 killings’’ he said.