President Muhammadu Buhari and the Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar on Wednesday joined other candidates to sign the second 2019 National Peace Accord in Abuja.
The Presidential election comes up on Saturday 16th of February, 2019.
Buhari and Atiku called for free, fair and non-violent elections.
While stressing that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security agencies have given their words in readiness to conduct free and fair elections, he urged the youths not to allow themselves to be used for violence.
Noting that there is fear towards the election just like any other elections, he urged Nigerians to pray for Nigeria as it goes into the elections.
The President also said that the only real party is Nigeria and that elections are only important to the extent to which they make Nigeria strong.
Atiku again appealed to INEC and the security agencies to ensure free, fair elections.
He recalled the words of former President Goodluck Jonathan where he said that his ambition is not worth the blood of any Nigerian.
Atiku said that the Nigerian democracy should emerge stronger than the 2015 general elections that was adjudged the freest and fairest in the country.
The former Vice President specifically appealed to President Buhari for everyone who casts his or her vote to have confidence that the votes will count. “We must abide by the will of the people,” he stated.
Present at the peace accord signing is Mahmood Yakubu, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and Abdulsalami Abubakar, the chairman of the National Peace Committee.
Patricia Scotland, the secretary-general of the Commonwealth; Mathew Kukah, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, as well as other members of the National Peace Committee (NPC), are in attendance.
Yakubu Gowon, former head of state, is also present at the ICC to witness the historic event.
Speaking at the event, Scotland said the National peace accord to be signed by the major presidential aspirants in the 2019 general election is consistent with the values and principles of the Commonwealth.
She called on all parties involved to ensure peaceful, free, fair, and credible election in Nigeria.
Bill Clinton, former US president, had pulled out of the accord, following the cancellation of his visit to Nigeria less than 48 hours to the event.