Atiku boycotts Peace Accord

Lukman Amusa

The candidate of the major opposition Peoples Democratic Party in the 2019 general elections, Atiku Abubakar, on Tuesday boycotted the signing of Peace Accord among all presidential candidates for the elections.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the leadership and officials of the PDP also boycotted the event, which was organised by the National Peace Committee headed by the former Head of State, retired Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar.

The Peace Accord is an undertaking by all the presidential candidates to ensure peaceful and rancour-free campaigns before, during and after the 2019 general elections.

The candidates are also expected to avoid hate speech, fake news or any act capable of causing socio-political unrest in the country.

NAN reports that the event was attended by the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, President Muhammadu Buhari, as well as over 68 other presidential candidates.

Other dignitaries at the event included former Head of State, retired Gen. Yakubu Gowon, who presented a keynote address and Head of the European Union Delegation to Nigeria, Ambassador Ketil Karlsen.

In his remarks, Karlsen reiterated that the European Union was not in support of any of the presidential candidates in Nigeria’s general elections in 2019.

He, however, stressed the need for all the candidates to abide by the rules and regulations governing the electoral process in the country.

NAN reports that a similar Peace Accord was signed between former President Goodluck Jonathan and the then APC Presidential Candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, prior to the conduct of the 2015 presidential elections.