President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday, 11 December 2018, implored all stakeholders to work towards successful and peaceful conduct of the 2019 elections as the world is focused on Nigeria.
Buhari made the call in Abuja on Tuesday at the signing of a peace accord by the presidential candidates of all the political parties ahead of the 2019 elections under the aegis of National Peace Committee (NPC).
According to Buhari, the whole world is watching to see how Nigeria will uphold and strengthen its democracy by the conduct of the 2019 polls.
Buhari said that the conduct of elections had been consistently marred by violence caused by the behaviour of the most sections of the political class and their supporters.
He, however, said there were encouraging signs that the political class would embrace the responsibilities expected of it.
“We are here to commit ourselves as key actors in the political process, party leaders and presidential candidates to a peaceful and credible conduct of the election.”
“Today, we witness the formal and official signing of the peace accord by the presidential candidates of the parties contesting the next elections.”
“Buhari signs for peace. We the candidates pledge to accord the highest tenets of conduct and encourage our teeming supporters to do the same,” he said.
He urged INEC and all the security agencies to put the nation first in their conduct; as “the world is watching us and the task of building our country, institutionalising trust in our political system and institutions is fundamental to the growth and development of our country.”
He thanked the NPC under the leadership of former Head of State, Retired General Abdulsalami Abubakar for the sacrifices and good work it had done for the peace and progress of Nigeria.
Abubakar, in his address, said the signing of the accord was crucial to ensuring peace during the campaigns and elections.
He told the candidates that election would not hold unless there was peace and harmony in the country.
Presidential candidates of 76 political parties signed the accord.
– APA
