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  • Ondo 2024: 18 parties sign peace accord

    Ondo 2024: 18 parties sign peace accord

    At least, 18 governorship candidates on Friday in Akure have signed a peace accord ahead of the 2024 Ondo State off-cyle Governorship Election scheduled for November 16 in the State.

    Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, Chairman, National Peace Committee (NPC), who oversaw the signing, said it was to support a peaceful and credible electoral process. He also said the accord would promote the ideals of peace and democracy.

    Abubakar urged the party leaders and candidates to accept the outcome of the election as long as it was adjudged to be free, fair and credible.

    He said that any candidate or party should seek legitimate and peaceful means of addressing any concern that may arise thereafter.

    “I want to call on all stakeholders to work assiduously in their capacities to ensure that peace reigns supreme during this election.

    “And that the Ondo State off-cycle Election sets a precedent for other off-cycle elections to emulate. I want to urge all politicians who will sign the accord to fully commit themselves and their parties to the letter and spirit of the accord.

    “Shun violence and intimidation and remember that as politicians, you must demonstrate the spirit of sportsmanship, as that is a key trait of good leadership.

    “So, It is the sincere hope of the National Peace Committee that the Ondo State election will be free, fair, credible, and peaceful,” the NPC chairman said.

    Abubakar, who commended INEC for the work done so far, called on them to continuously live up to their responsibilities in ensuring that eligible voters exercised their franchise peacefully.

    Earlier, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, National Chairman, Independence National Electoral Commission (INEC), commended the committee for their timely efforts in bringing parties and candidate together for peaceful elections in Nigeria.

    Yakubu said that seven peace accords had been signed in off-cycle elections since inception in 2020.

    He called on religious leaders, traditional leaders, security agencies and others to join hands with the commission for a peaceful election.

    “To all political parties and candidates, singing of the peace accord alone will not guarantee a peaceful election. Peace accord is never ultimated but your commitment with implementation is crucial.

    “So, you have signed the peace accord, you should commit yourself with implementation and pass the message to your supporters to comply to honour the effort.

    “I have said repeatedly that to honour the effort and sacrifices of the chairman and members of the NPC, we must ensure peaceful elections in Nigeria,” Yakubu said.

    Also, Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, represented by DIG Abiodun Alabi, said that 36,637 personnel would be deployed to all the 3933 polling units, 203 wards across the 18 Local Government Area of Ondo State.

    “We are going to deploy four personnel to each of the polling units to protect the INEC materials, officials and electorate during and after the election,” he said.

    Speaking on behalf of the candidates, Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State and governorship candidate of All Progressive Congress (APC), promised to abide by the laws and regulations guiding the election process.

  • Edo: In 2023, Tinubu did not sign any peace accord-Bishop Kukah reveals

    Edo: In 2023, Tinubu did not sign any peace accord-Bishop Kukah reveals

    The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Matthew Hassan-Kukah, has said there’s no point making noise as in 2023 President Bola Tinubu did not sign a peace accord during his presidential candidacy.

    Kukah made the statement in Benin City at the Edo Election Security Townhall, raising concerns about political candidates neglecting this key practice.

    Kukah, a convener of the National Peace Committee led by former Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar, warned that the refusal of political candidates to sign the peace accord sends a negative message, potentially encouraging electoral violence.

    He noted that the peace accord is a moral obligation rather than a legal requirement, stating, “The National Peace Committee, what we do is not in the Electoral Act; it’s not law, it’s moral. You can’t compel people to love their neighbor.”

    Kukah also pointed out that during the 2015 elections, former PDP candidate Atiku Abubakar initially missed the signing of the peace pact but signed it the next day. Similarly, Tinubu’s failure to sign the peace accord as a candidate in 2023 was not capitalized on by the opposition, Kukah said. Advertisement While the peace accord is not legally binding, Kukah emphasized that skipping it can send damaging signals to the public.

  • Bayelsa Guber Poll: Diri, Sylva, 12 others sign peace accord

    Bayelsa Guber Poll: Diri, Sylva, 12 others sign peace accord

    Ahead of the forthcoming  guber election in Bayelsa state, Candidates of different political parties in the state on Wednesday signed  a peace accord pledging to ensure a peaceful and violence free election.

    The peace accord signing ceremony held at Lady Diama Memorial event centre, Yenagoa, had the Bayelsa State Governor and Flagbearer of Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) the candidate of All Progressives Congress, (APC), and fourteen others in attendance.

    The event was facilitated by the National Peace Committee, in conjunction with Kukah Centre.

    The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Matthew Kukah, who presided over the peace forum, enjoined the people of the state to imbibe a tolerant disposition during the poll to engender a peaceful and credible exercise.

    Kukah, who represented the National Chairman of the National Peace Committee, NPC, Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar, said: “I want to enjoin you and call upon you to please ensure that we all imbibe the spirit that only the living can participate in politics, and enjoy the dividends of democracy.

    “Our prayer and our hope is that this election will go on peacefully. I want to add my voice, vote to stay alive, vote to see a great Bayelsa and Nigeria.

    “It will be a terrible tragedy for anybody to lose his life or to be hospitalized. Let’s conduct ourselves in a way and manner that will finally make the judiciary which has become the subject of law of litigation redundant. And the only way we can do this is to conduct free, fair and credible election.”

    Meanwhile, indication that the peace accord may be violated emerged when the frontline gladiators, Douye and Sylva, spoke with journalists shortly after the ceremony.

    Both candidates traded accusations and counter accusation of plots to undermine the peace accord.

    Diri said: “Generally Nigerians are seeing this as an election ritual because a lot of politicians do not keep to it. So it is just a ritual, we come and sign and the bad politicians among us will continue the violence.

    “I have just been informed that the former governor of the state who you interviewed has accused me (Douye Diri of stockpiling arms in Kolokuma-Opokuma. That should be the fattest lie of the year and that shows that this peace accord is going to be ineffectual. Because if a man chooses to be telling lies even in the face of this peace accord, then something is wrong in our polity.

    “I am really embarrassed when I got that information. Everybody knows in this state those who are given to violence and the flash red point and I think that the candidate of the APC, Chief Timipre Sylva may have stockpiled arms in Kolokuma-Opokuma and I have called on the security agencies to immediately swing into action to see if Timipre Sylva is bringing the devilish actions he has been taking in Nembe where he has disallowed the people of Nembe to participate in democratic electoral peaceful process.

    “And we in Kolokuma will never accept that from him, I am one person that all of you will at least know that the peace in this state is because the body language of the governor is peaceful. The body language of the governor is security and so the issue of my commitment does not arise here.”

    Sylva had earlier said: “The APC today has come to demonstrate that we are committed to peace in Bayelsa State but we must say that we are not very comfortable with the disposition of our opponent.

    “There has been a lot of violence perpetrated by PDP in Kolokuma-Opokuma and this morning, I was told that they were stoking violence in other places. But am happy that the peace accord will make all of us to stand back. I think it is a very important step that we have taken.

    “For us in APC we are very happy that this is happening because we have always stood for peace and we hope that other parties will also obey and abide by the peace accord.

    “Having signed it, we believe that it will at least jolt everybody not to do what they have planned to do because we hear all kind of plans of thugs being imported from all over the place, Rivers and Delta to Bayelsa.”

  • Peace Accord: Party supporters attacked in Enugu, LP’s senatorial candidate feared dead

    Peace Accord: Party supporters attacked in Enugu, LP’s senatorial candidate feared dead

    Barely three days to the election, disturbing videos showing the charred remains of campaign vehicles belonging to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) emerged on Wednesday, few hours after the major presidential candidates and parties taking part in Saturday’s election signed a Peace Accord in Abuja.

    One of the vehicles which resembled a 14 seater Toyota Hiace bus had the name of the PDP member representing Enugu North and South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives Honourable Ofor Chukwuegbo, branded on it, while the other sienna bus had stickers of the name of LP’s Senatorial candidate for Enugu East Oyibo Chukwu.

    Unconfirmed reports indicate that the eight occupants of the sienna bus were returning from a campaign held in Agbani and heading to Amuri when they were shot dead and the vehicle set on fire.

    It is not immediately clear whether Chukwu was a passenger in the ill-fated vehicle, but some reports claimed he was also shot dead.

    Reacting to these reports, former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria Kingsley Moghalu took to his twitter account to mourn his former classmate at the University of Nigeria.

    He wrote: “What a tragedy! I’m deeply saddened. Oyibo was my classmate at the University of Nigeria (Enugu Campus) Law Faculty. Does politics have to be this desperate and violent? May his soul rest in peace. My sincere condolences to Oyibo Chukwu’s family.”

    The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), also condemned the attack and called on security agencies to promptly investigate the incident and ensure that the perpetrators are prosecuted.

    “The Buhari administration must promptly investigate the reported killing of the Labour Party candidate for Enugu East Senatorial district, Oyibo Chukwu in Enugu while returning from a campaign trip. The perpetrators must be immediately arrested and prosecuted,” SERAP demanded.

    A former governor of the state Chimaroke Nnamani, who was expelled from the PDP on February 10th for alleged anti-party activities, but had insisted he is still the party’s candidate for the Enugu East senatorial district in Saturday’s election and party supporters have also expressed shock and anger over the attacks.

    Meanwhile, during the signing of the Peace Agreement, the chairman of the National Peace Committee Abdulsalami Abubakar, expressed concern about the lack of compliance by major political parties to the National Peace Accord signed in September 2022.

    Abubakar noted that 44 per cent of violations were carried out by party spokespersons, while party members, presidential candidates and hard-core supporters were also found guilty of violating the Peace Agreement in varying degrees.

    The new agreement signed on Wednesday, contains clauses that commit candidates and political parties to engage their supporters and ensure a violence-free electioneering process that is also devoid of other vices such as hate speech.

    The Peace Accord led Abubakar’s Committee, was supported by the Nigerian government and its international partners including the European Union and the United Nations.

  • 2023: Police assure Zamfara of peaceful election as political parties sign peace accord

    2023: Police assure Zamfara of peaceful election as political parties sign peace accord

    The Zamfara Commissioner of Police, Mr Kolo Yusuf, has assured the residents of Zamfara of peaceful elections in the state ahead of the 2023 general elections.

    The Police Commissioner is also the state Chairman of, Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).

    He gave the assurance in Gusau on Tuesday at an event for signing of  peace accord by political parties in the state ahead of the 2023 general elections.

    Yusuf, who chaired the session, said the meeting was aimed at stimulating healthy interaction and mutual discussion on matters relating to the security and overall conduct of the February 2023 General Elections.

    He explained that, the ICCES was an ad hoc committee of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), made up of the various security agencies to ensure free, fair and credible election.

    “All security agencies in the state are working together to ensure effective deployment and management during the elections,” he said.

    According to him, “All quasi-security outfits during campaigns/rallies and other electoral processes are banned”.

    The police commissioner also warned that the use of firearms and other offensive weapons remained prohibited.

    In his remarks, The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof Saeed Babura, appealed to the political parties for maximum support and cooperation to INEC, the security agencies and other stakeholders.

    Newsmen reports that during the event, all registered political parties and their governorship candidates signed the peace accord.

    They all assured the state of readiness to abide by the peace agreement signed during the event.

  • 2023: Let your campaigns be issues-based, Jonathan implores politicians

    2023: Let your campaigns be issues-based, Jonathan implores politicians

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan has called on all candidates in the 2023 general elections to strive to make their campaigns issue-based, clean and violence-free.

    Jonathan made the call in his virtual goodwill message read on Thursday in Abuja at the signing of the first National Peace Accord on the 2023 general elections which was attended by presidential candidates and their parties.

    He also urged candidates, their promoters and supporters to exercise restraint and to run their campaigns based on issues that affected Nigerians.

    “We are at a critical stage in our national life where we have no choice but to promote national cohesion, love and hope in order to make the desired progress.

    “We cannot afford to continue to play politics of bitterness and division along ethnic and religious lines. This is because such kind of politics portends great danger to our unity, growth and the sustenance of our democracy.

    “We have to be mindful of the destructive impact of hate speech, fake news and mindless propaganda, especially in a clime where the fabric of unity and stability still needs to be strengthened.

    “I charge the candidates, their promoters and supporters to exercise restraint and seek to run their campaigns based on issues that affect our people.

    “They should, by all means, avoid needless attacks on personalities and use of abusive language for those are the elements that cause chaos and crisis during elections,’’ Jonathan said.

    He said that the task of ensuring peaceful elections in 2023 was our collective responsibility.

    Jonathan said that it behoved on the candidates and the leaders of the various parties to lead the process for peaceful elections in the country.

    He said that political stability and growth of democracy in any country were usually measured by the quality of elections.

    “In this regard, we expect our democracy to be consolidated in such a way that our electoral processes will be seen to record incremental progress at the end of every election cycle.

    “Unfortunately, this has not been the case, as there are signs of inconsistencies with the progress we make in our elections.

    “As citizens of this great country, we all have the responsibility to redirect our steps, strive to work harder and do the right things to avoid the stagnation of our democracy.’’

    Jonathan urged Nigeria to raise the bar in credible and transparent elections by ensuring that the country electoral processes were peaceful, free and fair.

    “Since I left office in 2015, I have been involved in the process of promoting democracy across Africa.

    “My experience as an election observer, having led observation missions to many countries, is that many African countries are working hard to improve their elections and deepen the roots of democracy in their land.

    “Many of us will recall that elections held recently in Kenya, Ghana and The Gambia and I am pleased that peaceful outcomes were recorded in those countries.

    “ In 2023, I expect our country to raise the bar for credible and transparent elections by ensuring that our electoral processes are peaceful, free and fair.“ he said.

  • 2023: Why candidates will sign second peace accord – Abubakar

    2023: Why candidates will sign second peace accord – Abubakar

    Chairman of the National Peace Accord, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd) has said political parties and their presidential candidates will sign a second peace accord, saying that this was intended to commit the candidates to accept the outcome of the 2023 elections as long as it is adjudged to be free, fair and credible.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that the leadership of the 18 registered political parties and their presidential candidates signed the first peace accord on Thursday in Abuja to commit themselves to a peaceful electioneering campaign.

    The candidates included Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), represented by his running mate, Alhaji Kashim Shettima.

    ALSO READ || 2023: Sowore confronts Shettima over Tinubu’s absence as presidential candidates sign peace accord

    Others were Mr Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) and Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP). Some more were Mr Adewale Adebayo of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Justice Peter Umeadi, the flag bearer of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA).

    In his remarks, Abubakar, a former Nigerian military president said the signing of the peace accord which started in 2015 was still relevant for 2023, noting that the issue of fake news and misinformation posed a singular threat to the 2023 general elections.

    Abubakar thanked political parties, party chairmen and candidates, and indeed everyone that turned out for the 2015 and 2019 peace accord. He further noted that NPC’s efforts contributed significantly to mitigating violent conflicts in previous elections in spite of the challenges.

    “Now that the 2023 general elections are around the corner, issues of major concern that have the potential to negatively impact on the integrity are better imagined. One of such issues is the spreading of fake news. Fake news and misinformation continue to pose a significant threat to the 2023 general elections. I am told already that fake news has also declared the winner of the 2023 election even before the exercise.

    “It has shifted focus away from issue-based campaigns and created the platform for political parties to resort to name calling, personal insults and character assassination. It has taken away our civility and decency in public discourse and conversations and created a toxic atmosphere that has the potential to incite citizens against the state, against other political parties and candidates. It is for this reason that the NPC has organised the signing of two peace accords with the 2023 general elections on the way,’’ he said.

    Abubakar explained that Thursday’s peace accord was to commit political parties, presidential candidates and their spokesperson to peaceful political campaigns and rallies, devoid of violence, incitement and personal insults. He said it was also to ensure that the campaigns were defined by issues at the very heart of the national development and progress.

    “The second accord, God willing, will come up shortly before the elections, and it is intended to commit the candidates to accepting the outcome of the votes as long it is adjudged to be free, fair and credible. We hope this will take place sometimes in January 2023,” he said.

    Abubakar also urged political parties and their candidates to base their campaign on issues affecting the country and not on personal attacks or fake news.

    “It is time for us to promote issue-based campaigns. We are calling on politicians to address issues that are fundamental to Nigerian citizens. We also want to promote respect and tolerance of differences in opinions. We want to ensure that there is civility and decency in public discourse.

    “I appeal to political parties, party chairmen, candidates and their spokespersons to please campaign on the basis of issues that are of significant concern to Nigerians.

    “Avoid the spread of fake news, personal attacks and insults and comply with the spirit and letter of this accord. I appeal to the electorate also to realise that do no good to our electoral process,’’ Gen. Abubakar added.

    A 14-year-old student at the event, Miss Naomi Oloyede urged leaders and political actors, especially candidates to put Nigeria first in all their conduct.

    Oloyede charged them to avoid violence and promote peace during their campaigns.

    “As you start your campaigns, please, in the name of God, have our future in mind and try to leave a safe country for us.

    “This is not the time to settle scores. This is the best gift you can give to us and the greatest assurance that you will retire in peace. If you do this, you will be remembered with fondness and not with blame.

    “I look forward to growing in a beautiful country where there is peace and the rule of law is respected,” she said.

    In his remarks, Chairman of Inter-party Advisory Committee (IPAC), Malam Yabaji Sani said all political parties were committed to peaceful, credible and reliable election.

    Sani is also the National Chairman and presidential candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP).

    He said parties had been praying for peace so that Nigeria would continue to maintain its leadership position in Africa and in the comity of nations.

  • 2023: We will monitor spending by political parties – INEC vows

    2023: We will monitor spending by political parties – INEC vows

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has promised to monitor political parties’ campaigns and expenses for the 2023 general elections to ensure compliance with the laws.

    The INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said this at the signing of the peace accord for peaceful campaign organised by the National Peace Committee (NPC) on Thursday in Abuja.

    Yakubu said that would be done to ensure that parties shun abusive language and comply with spending limits for elections.

    He said the Electoral Act 2022 provided for campaign in public by political parties to commence not earlier than 150 days before polling day of which that of national elections had officially commenced Sept. 28.

    He added that campaign would continue until 24 hours before polling day (Feb 23, 2023) for national elections (Presidential and National Assembly), and March 9, 2023, for state elections (Governorship and Houses of Assembly).

    “The implication is that for the next 148 days, political parties, candidates and their supporters are free to traverse the country holding meetings, rallies, processions and door-to-door campaigns.

    “They will grant interviews, sponsor indoor and outdoor advertisements and publish other campaign materials. This is often a delicate period characterised by excitement and anxiety.

    “In line with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 and in our determination to play our role as a regulator, the Commission will vigorously monitor compliance.

    “To ensure that parties shun abusive, intemperate or slanderous language as well as insinuations or innuendoes likely to provoke a breach of the peace during the electioneering campaigns.

    “Similarly, the Commission will also closely monitor compliance with the limits on campaign spending under the Electoral Act. There are sanctions provided by law.

    “Political parties and candidates should study and familiarise themselves with the electoral legal framework to avoid any infraction of the law and the unhappy consequences that will follow any act of misdemeanour.’’

    Yakubu therefore urged all political party candidates to show appreciation to the work of the NPC by abiding and showing commitment to the peace accord that they signed.

    “Therefore, the commitment to peaceful and issue-based electioneering campaign should resonate beyond the 18 Party Chairmen and Presidential candidates present here today.

    “It is not enough to simply sign the Peace Accord. What is more important is to abide by its letter and spirit.

    “You should similarly pass the message to all your candidates, members and supporters across the country for compliance.

    “This will be your own way of showing appreciation for the work of the NPC and an affirmation of your contribution to electoral peace in Nigeria.”

    Yakubu disclosed that the 2023 General Election would be conducted for 1,491 constituencies nationwide made up of one Presidential constituency, 28 Governorship elections, 109 Senatorial Districts, 360 Federal constituencies and 993 State Assembly constituencies.

    He commended the Chairman of the NPC, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, as well as the convener and members of the Committee, saying INEC appreciated their partnership for peaceful elections.

    He said that the signing of peace accord, which started in 2015 general elections, has continued to yield positive result.

    “The result is not only the peaceful conduct of these elections, but the process keeps improving one election after another,’’ Yakubu said.

    The Head,Delegation of the European Union to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Amb. Samuela Isopi, urged Nigeria to continue to take decisive steps to seek a further consolidation of democracy, peaceful, inclusive, credible and transparent elections.

    Isopi said that as the largest democracy in Africa, Nigerian elections do matter, not only for Nigeria but also the future of democracy in West Africa and the continent.

    “Nigeria has an opportunity to lead to contribute to reversing the trend of undemocratic change of power and to its leadership, consolidate democracy in the region and beyond.

    “As leaders of political parties and presidential candidates, you have a vital role to play in ensuring peaceful elections in engaging in peaceful and issue based campaigns, in taking a firm stance against violence, against hate speech, against misinformation and fake news.

    “ As you well know, in politics, words, do count and as political leaders you are role models for your candidates, for your supporters, for voters and for citizens,’’ Isopi said.

    The ambassador called for the needed support to INEC to conduct credible election, while also calling on security agencies to demonstrate neutrality and professionalism toward the conduct of credible elections.

    “We have to keep the neutrality and guarantee safety of all campaigners and voters and in particular of women, people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups,’’ Isopi said

    She also called on the media as the watchdogs and public educators to adhere to their own common code of conduct.

    Isopi expressed the commitment and support of international community, especially the European Union and its member states in particular to peace elections in Nigeria.

    “But also to stress our impartiality. We are not here to support any particular party or any particular candidate.

    “We are here at your invitation to support the process through international expertise, independent observation and support for key institutions.

    “We are committed to continue supporting the consolidation of the democratic process in Nigeria with our technical support, sharing of experience and good practices and political engagements.’’

  • 2023: Sowore confronts Shettima over Tinubu’s absence as presidential candidates sign peace accord

    2023: Sowore confronts Shettima over Tinubu’s absence as presidential candidates sign peace accord

    Presidential candidates for the 2023 elections on Thursday signed a national peace accord instituted by a group led by General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd), former Nigerian military Head of State.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that the peace accord is meant to compel presidential and governorship candidates of the various political parties in the country to maintain the peace and keep the process violent-free during elections.

    However, it was observed that Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was conspicuously absent at the signing of the peace accord.

    Tinubu is believed to be in London at the moment attending to his health and was, therefore, the only presidential candidate out of the prominent candidates who was not present.

    However, he was represented by his running mate, Kashim Shettima, who was confronted by the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore.

    Meanwhile, Abubakar had disclosed that the peace accords would be signed by the candidates and their spokespersons twice ahead of the 2023 general polls to commit them to issue-based campaigns and ensure a peaceful electoral process.

    “The first accord signing is intended to commit political parties, candidates and their spokespersons to conduct their campaigns (both online and offline) in a peaceful manner, devoid of ethnic, religious and hateful rhetoric that will incite violence and further aggravate the growing tension and insecurity in the nation.

    “These interventions are to complement ongoing peace initiatives aimed at promoting a violence-free and inclusive electioneering process before, during and after the declaration of the final election results,” he stated.

    TNG reports that Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) are among the prominent presidential candidates present at the signing of the peace accord.

    Buhari urges political actors to place Nigeria first, ahead of 2023 poll

    Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has urged political actors in the 2023 poll to place Nigeria first above regional or sectional interests, ahead of the 2023 general election.

    Buhari made the call in a goodwill message at the signing of the National Peace Accord by Presidential Candidates of political parties for the 2023 general election in Abuja on Thursday.

    He also urged the media to shun fake news and show commitment to issue-based campaigns to ensure free, fair and credible election.

    “The 2023 general election is more than an election, it is an opportunity to serve Nigeria, to defend Nigeria and to uphold her unity and progress.

    “Therefore, I call on all Nigerians, political parties, politicians, security agencies, the election management body, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and all stakeholders to ensure that Nigeria is placed first above regional and sectional claims.

    “I call on the contestants, especially their publicity agents and media advisers to shun personal attacks, avoid insults and incitement, reject the spread of fake news, and commit to issue-based campaigns and political rallies,’’ Buhari said.

    He said that as the president, he has always reiterated his commitment to a peaceful, credible and transparent election.

    Buhari commended the National Peace Committee (NPC) led by retired Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, for its commitment to supporting peaceful elections in Nigeria.

    He said what the committee has been doing over the years, aligned with his belief that Nigeria needed peace to achieve credible elections.

    “However, the rise of fake news and misinformation continue to pose a significant threat to the pattern of democracy in Nigeria.

    “It has shifted focus away from issue-based campaigns to amplifying the potential for personal attacks, insults, and incitement. It has also significantly diminished the civility and decency in public discourse and debate.

    “The initiatives undertaken by the National Peace Committee to commit all political actors to issue-based campaign devoid of incitement, personal insults and attacks is a welcome development,’’ he said.

    Buhari said that everything must be done to support NPC in its efforts to ensure peace elections in Nigeria.

  • 2022: Political parties in Osun sign peace treaty ahead guber poll

    2022: Political parties in Osun sign peace treaty ahead guber poll

    Ahead of the July 16 guber election, political parties in Osun State have signed a Peace Accord, vowing to eschew any form of uprising capable of truncating the poll.

    The treaty was signed at an event held on Thursday, at police headquarters in Osogbo in Osun state.

    The political parties that signed the treaty include the representative of the All Progressives Congress, APC, PDP YPP, LP, SDP and others.

    Osun Commissioner of Police, Wale Olokode who was represented by his Deputy, Kanayo Val, said it is important to put all political parties and other stakeholders on their toes on the need to abide by all rules and regulations guiding the conduct of peaceful, credible and violence-free elections.

    He explained that, “we are all aware that the governorship election in Osun will take place in July this year and political parties have begun necessary and required preparations for the process.

    “In accordance with the time table released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the Osun Governorship election, signed by its Secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, build-ups to the election would begin February 15, 2022.

    ”The notice also indicated that February 16 to March 12, 2022 is fixed for political parties to conduct their primaries and resolve disputes that may arise from them while April 17, 2022 is the official date for the commencement of campaigns by parties”, he stated.

    He added that political activities, party primaries, consultation visits, campaigns and other are legal so far they are within the confine of the Electoral Act and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    The police boss however, enjoined all political parties and groups to play the game by the rules and allow themselves and their activities be guided by the provisions of the Electoral Act.

    He said, ‘ I advise politicians and other members of the public who may be supporting political parties to always formally inform the command before embarking on processions, assemblies, campaigns or rallies in order to make necessary security arrangement that would prevent any breakdown of law and order.

    ”I want to assure all political parties of a free level playing ground before, during and after the election. I also want to assure the entire people of the state that the police will leave no stone unturned in ensuring security of lives and properties before, during and after the election period”.