2019: Atiku Boycotts Peace Accord

By Jide Afolabi, Jos

The candidate of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2019 general elections, Atiku Abubakar, on Tuesday boycotted the signing of Peace Accord among all presidential candidates for the elections.

Also absent at the event were the leadership and officials of the PDP.

The event was organised by the National Peace Committee headed by the former Head of State, retired Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar.

The Peace Accord is an undertaking by all the presidential candidates to ensure peaceful and rancour-free campaigns before, during and after the 2019 general elections.

The candidates are also expected to avoid hate speech, fake news or any act capable of causing socio-political unrest in the country.

The event was attended by the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, President Muhammadu Buhari, as well as over 68 other presidential candidates.

Other dignitaries at the event included former Head of State, retired Gen. Yakubu Gowon, who presented a keynote address and Head of the European Union Delegation to Nigeria, Ambassador Ketil Karlsen.

In the build up to the conduct of the 2015 elections, similar Peace Accord was signed between former President Goodluck Jonathan and the then APC Presidential Candidate, Muhammadu Buhari.