Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, President Muhammadu Buhari has signed the National Peace Accord Agreement ahead of the presidential election scheduled for February, 2019 even as thePresidential candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar claimed that he was not invited to the event.
But the National Peace Committee said at the ceremony that invitation was sent to all the 73 Presidential candidates, including Atiku Abubakar, out of the 91 registered political parties in the country.
In the document, President Buhari agrees to run issue-based campaigns at national, state and local government levels.
“In, this, we pledge to refrain from campaigns that will involve religious incitements, ethnic or tribal profiling, both by ourselves and by all agents in our names.
“To refrain from making or causing to make in our names and that of our party, any public statements, pronouncements, declarations or speeches that have the capacity to incite any form of violence, before, during and after the elections;
“To commit ourselves and political parties to the monitoring of the adherence to this Accord by a National Peace Committee made up of respected statesmen and women, traditional and religious leaders
“To support all institutions of government including INEC and the security agencies to act and be seen to act with impartially.
“To forcefully and publicly speak out against provocative utterances a d oppose all acts of electoral violence whether perpetuated by our supporters and/or opponents.”
President Buhari, who signed the Accord at exactly 4:26 pm today, Tuesday, was accompanied by the National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole.
However, the Media Adviser to Atiku Abubakar, Paul Ibe said: “I can confirm to you that His Excellency Atiku Abubakar, Presidential candidate of the PDP and former Vice President of Nigeria did not receive any formal invitation to the signing of the Peace Pact.”