Presidential candidates for the 2023 elections on Thursday signed a national peace accord instituted by a group led by General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd), former Nigerian military Head of State.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that the peace accord is meant to compel presidential and governorship candidates of the various political parties in the country to maintain the peace and keep the process violent-free during elections.
However, it was observed that Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was conspicuously absent at the signing of the peace accord.
Tinubu is believed to be in London at the moment attending to his health and was, therefore, the only presidential candidate out of the prominent candidates who was not present.
However, he was represented by his running mate, Kashim Shettima, who was confronted by the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore.
At the Presidential “Peace Accord” signing in Abuja, I had to challenge Al-Mustapha Abacha henchman and Kashim Shettima who took the position of Presidential candidates because @officialABAT was no where to be found but organisers let him sit in front! pic.twitter.com/kNv4mzUG9S
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— Omoyele Sowore (@YeleSowore) September 29, 2022
Meanwhile, Abubakar had disclosed that the peace accords would be signed by the candidates and their spokespersons twice ahead of the 2023 general polls to commit them to issue-based campaigns and ensure a peaceful electoral process.
“The first accord signing is intended to commit political parties, candidates and their spokespersons to conduct their campaigns (both online and offline) in a peaceful manner, devoid of ethnic, religious and hateful rhetoric that will incite violence and further aggravate the growing tension and insecurity in the nation.
“These interventions are to complement ongoing peace initiatives aimed at promoting a violence-free and inclusive electioneering process before, during and after the declaration of the final election results,” he stated.
TNG reports that Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) are among the prominent presidential candidates present at the signing of the peace accord.
Buhari urges political actors to place Nigeria first, ahead of 2023 poll
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has urged political actors in the 2023 poll to place Nigeria first above regional or sectional interests, ahead of the 2023 general election.
Buhari made the call in a goodwill message at the signing of the National Peace Accord by Presidential Candidates of political parties for the 2023 general election in Abuja on Thursday.
He also urged the media to shun fake news and show commitment to issue-based campaigns to ensure free, fair and credible election.
“The 2023 general election is more than an election, it is an opportunity to serve Nigeria, to defend Nigeria and to uphold her unity and progress.
“Therefore, I call on all Nigerians, political parties, politicians, security agencies, the election management body, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and all stakeholders to ensure that Nigeria is placed first above regional and sectional claims.
“I call on the contestants, especially their publicity agents and media advisers to shun personal attacks, avoid insults and incitement, reject the spread of fake news, and commit to issue-based campaigns and political rallies,’’ Buhari said.
He said that as the president, he has always reiterated his commitment to a peaceful, credible and transparent election.
Buhari commended the National Peace Committee (NPC) led by retired Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, for its commitment to supporting peaceful elections in Nigeria.
He said what the committee has been doing over the years, aligned with his belief that Nigeria needed peace to achieve credible elections.
“However, the rise of fake news and misinformation continue to pose a significant threat to the pattern of democracy in Nigeria.
“It has shifted focus away from issue-based campaigns to amplifying the potential for personal attacks, insults, and incitement. It has also significantly diminished the civility and decency in public discourse and debate.
“The initiatives undertaken by the National Peace Committee to commit all political actors to issue-based campaign devoid of incitement, personal insults and attacks is a welcome development,’’ he said.
Buhari said that everything must be done to support NPC in its efforts to ensure peace elections in Nigeria.