Presidential candidate of the major opposition Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) 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 (NAN) 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 President Muhammadu
Buhari, the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives
Congress (APC) 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.
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.