President Muhammadu Buhari has made a passionate appeal to all the candidates for the general elections to avoid all forms of acrimony by accepting the results as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He advised any candidate dissatisfied with the outcome of any level of the poll to seek redress in the court of law instead of taking actions that could lead to crisis.
President Buhari also charged INEC and security agencies to be “firm and courageous” in the conduct of elections which commences on Saturday with the Presidential and National Assembly polls.
The President made the appeal during the signing of the Second Peace Accord organised by Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar- led National Peace Committee.
All Progressives Congress Presidential candidate Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu signed the second peace accord alongside his main opponents Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); Peter Obi of the Labour Party(LP) and Rabiu KwaNkwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
The ceremony was witnessed by former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon; former presidents Thabo Mbeki (South Africa), Uhuru Kenyatta (Kenya), Joyce Hilda Banda(Malawi); Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland; European Union Head of Delegations Samuela Isopi; Abdel Musah, Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, ECOWAS Commission and Acrionaid’s Country Director, Ene Obi.
The first peace accord was signed in September 2022 by all the presidential candidates who pledged that their politics would be devoid of insults and personal attacks.
Assuring all the candidates that his administration would be neutral, Buhari implored them to respect the choice of voters.
The President reiterated his administration’s commitment to leaving a “legacy of free, fair, credible, safe, and peaceful elections.”
His words: ”I am aware of the deep concerns that have been raised about the conduct of the 2023 general elections and the outcomes they may throw up.
“However, since my assumption of office, my government has worked so hard to ensure that we pass on a legacy of free, fair, credible, safe, and peaceful elections.
“We will continue to act with neutrality and allow the rule of law to take precedence over political expedience.
“We demonstrated that with the off-circle elections in Edo, Ondo, Anambra, Ekiti and Osun states.
“We allowed Nigerians to decide who should govern them. We are committed to this legacy till the very last day of my administration.
“I, therefore, implore the candidates contesting in these elections at all levels to respect the choice of voters and accept the result of the elections as announced by INEC, the agency empowered by law to do so.
“All aggrieved candidates should seek redress through the established judicial processes and we must have the confidence to trust our legal systems.
“I once again ask the candidates to abide by the spirit and letter of the Accord they have signed unto today (yesterday).
“As your President, I am reminding all Nigerians that this is the only country we have, and we must do everything to keep it safe, united and peaceful.
“There should be no riots or acts of violence after the announcement of the election results.
“All grievances, personal or institutional, should be channelled to the relevant courts.”
-Thenation
