…Abubakar, INEC Chair Task Candidates On Peaceful Conduct Before, During Election
MARGARET CHIDERA
In preparation for peaceful elections in 2023, the National Peace Committee (NPC), yesterday midwifed another signing of peace accord among presidential candidates of the 18 registered political parties and their national chairmen.
Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was conspicuously absent at the event, the third of its series which took place at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.
He was represented by his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima.
However, candidates of leading parties were present. These include: Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peter Obi of the Labour Party, and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
Others were Omoyele Sowore of African Action Congress, Hamzat Al-Mustapha of Action Alliance, Sunday Adenuga of Boot Party and the only female candidate in the race, Chichi Ojei of Allied People’s Movement (APM).
List of candidates who appended signatures to the all important agreement include: Christoper Imumolen of the Accord Party; Yabagi Sani of Action Democratic Party; Dumebi Kachikwu of African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Dan Nwanyanwu of the Zenith Labour Party.
Former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd), Chairman of the Peace Committee, charging candidates to be civil and decent in their campaigns, said, “I call on politicians to address issues that are fundamental to Nigerians. We want to promote respect and tolerance of difference. We want to ensure that there is civility and decency in public discourse,”
“Therefore, on behalf of Nigerians, I am appealing to all political parties, party chairmen, candidates and their spokespersons, please, a campaign based on issues that are of significant concern to Nigerians.
“Please, avoid the spread of fake news and personal attacks. You must comply with the spirit of electoral laws,” he said.
In his address, Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu, said candidates and their political parties should note that it was not enough to simply sign the Peace Accord. What is more important is to abide by its letter and spirit.
Prof Yakubu urged them to extend the message to their members and supporters across the country for electoral compliance.
He explained that the 2023 general election will be conducted for 1,491 (one thousand four hundred ninety one) constituencies nationwide, made up of one Presidential Constituency, 28 Governorship Elections, 109 Senatorial Districts, 360 Federal Constituencies and 993 State Assembly Constituencies.
The INEC Chairman maintained that every election was important, therefore, the commitment to peaceful and issue-based electioneering campaign should resonate beyond the 18 political party chairmen and presidential candidates.
