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.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar raises his hands in victory after he won the presidential ticket of the opposition People's Democratic Party (PDP) during the national convention in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on October 7, 2018. - Former vice president Atiku Abubakar will challenge incumbent Muhammadu Buhari for the Nigerian presidency early next year after winning the opposition Democratic Peoples Party primary, an AFP reporter at the vote said on October 7, 2018. Abubakar, 71, won 1,532 votes, trouncing his main rival Aminu Tambuwal, the governor of northern Sokoto state who scored 693 votes at the party's convention in the southeastern oil hub of Port Harcourt. (Photo by PIUS UTOMI EKPEI / AFP) (Photo credit should read PIUS UTOMI EKPEI/AFP/Getty Images) 
